Clemson’s struggles to stop the run have plagued the Tigers all season, and the porous run defense was a big problem again on Saturday against Texas.
The Longhorns’ offensive line leaned on the Tigers’ defensive line and Texas dominated on the ground, blowing things open early en route to an eventual 38-24 victory over Clemson in the College Football Playoff First Round Game at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Clemson came into the game allowing 150.5 rushing yards per contest, 74th nationally. Texas nearly matched that total with 148 rushing yards in the first half alone, including 116 yards before contact.
Texas averaged 6.7 yards per carry in the first half, and the 148 rushing yards marked its most in a first half this season. The Longhorns led 28-10 at halftime, thanks in large part to 3-yard, 38-yard and 16-yard touchdown runs on their first three possessions.
Later – after Clemson rallied to cut its deficit to one score at 31-24 early in the fourth quarter – the Longhorns broke off yet another big run to give them breathing room again. Jaydon Blue raced to the end zone for a 77-yard touchdown that extended the Texas lead to 38-24 with 10:48 remaining in the game.
Texas finished with four rushing touchdowns and a season-high 292 rushing yards. Blue led the Longhorns with 146 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, while Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards and two scores on 15 rushing attempts.
“Just getting off some blocks, leveraging the ball. Coming underneath instead of going over the top. Just some base stuff,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said of what plagued the Tigers defensively. “They’re good. They’re a good football team. If you misfit just a little bit — missed a couple tackles. They’re really good. They can make you pay for those things. This is a good football team. That’s really it.”
Entering the game, Clemson was tied for 90th nationally allowing 4.56 yards per carry, and Texas easily surpassed that number with 6.1 yards per carry in the contest.
Clemson’s run defense has been nonexistent far too often this season, and that was the case again Saturday. The Tigers got gashed on the ground for most of the day, and Texas’ rushing attack proved to be a crucial factor in the outcome.
This is the third time in the last four games that Clemson has allowed at least 260 rushing yards. The Citadel rushed for 288 yards, and South Carolina rushed for 267.