Texas to meet ASU in Peach Bowl after shutting door on Clemson comeback attempt

Fourth-seeded ASU will face off against fifth-seeded Texas in the Peach Bowl after the Longhorns shut down Clemson’s second-half comeback attempt in a 38-24 win.

After Texas had a 31-10 lead early in the second half on Saturday in Austin, the Tigers scored 14 unanswered as quarterback Cade Klubnik threw touchdowns of 25 and seven yards.

Texas running back Jaydon Blue responded with a 77-yard touchdown as the lead was cut to one score, and the offense led a clock-killing drive the next time to inch closer to the win. Its defense got a stop on fourth down in its own territory to close the door.

The Longhorns rushed for 292 yards with Blue accounting for 146 yards and Quintrevion Wisner adding 110. Each scored twice. Containing their run game will be one of the first items of business for ASU.

Quarterback Quinn Ewers had 202 passing yards on 17-for-24, coming out with the win over Texas native Klubnik’s 336 yards on 26-for-43 passing.

How did Texas take control early vs. Clemson?

Wisner had six runs of at least six yards across the Longhorns’ first three scoring drives, including chunk plays of 22, 12 and 16 yards, the latter of which he scored on to give Texas a 21-7 lead that was up to 28-10 by halftime.

Wisner also had a three-yard touchdown run to punctuate the Longhorns’ first scoring drive.

Ewers had struggled in recent games coming into the playoff, but the stronger run game that outgained Clemson 122-45 (four yards aside from a 41-yard run) to that point helped open the passing game up for a 7-for-7 start (100 yards).

Change of pace back Blue added a 36-yard touchdown between the two from Wisner.

Jaydon Blue takes it to the house for a 38-yard rushing TD and Texas is in front! pic.twitter.com/SZDrGc79EQ

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 21, 2024

Wisner came off the field banged up late in the half on a play that also saw starting right tackle Cameron Williams come off with help from trainers.

Starting center Jake Majors went down on the next play, an interception by the Clemson defense. It was the third straight game with an interception by Ewers after three straight games without one.

Ewers bounced back to lead the two-minute drill and gashed Clemson for an 11-yard run on third-and-short before tossing a 19-yard touchdown to regain momentum before heading into the locker room.

Texas defense had its way in 1st half

After the Tigers led a methodical, 12-play touchdown drive over 6:46 to start the game, Clemson scored one other time in the half: a field goal with 1:33 left after the aforementioned interception gave it a short field.

Following the touchdown drive, Clemson went three-and-out after a five-yard sack set the table for an uphill battle. Another sack on the next series then led to another three-and-out.

Disaster struck the Tigers offense on its next time out after a pass from Cade Klubnik was tipped up at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by edge rusher Colin Simmons.

Just as the Tigers defense bounced back to hold the Longhorns on a fourth-and-one run, their offense again failed to get a first down, the third straight such drive.