AUSTIN, Texas — Clemson’s Cade Klubnik returns to his hometown in hopes of living out a childhood dream and knocking off the hometown Texas Longhorns.
“Both of my parents went to Texas A&M, so I grew up going to a lot of A&M games,” the Clemson quarterback said. “A lot of my family went there. My dad’s brother went there. Pretty much all of my mom’s side went there, all of her siblings, cousins and stuff. My sister went there.
“I kind of grew up going to a lot of Texas A&M-Texas games, but as I kind of got older and stuff, that kind of childhood dream school went away. I just started getting older.”
Can he and the Tigers pull off the upset against his parents’ rival school?
No. 12 Clemson (10-3) at No. 5 Texas (11-2)
Kickoff: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Location: DK Royal Stadium, Austin, Texas
TV: TNT/Max
Spread: Texas -12.5 points
Over/Under: 51.5 points
Series: First meeting
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The winner moves on to the quarterfinal round of the CFP and the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Jan. 1 and will play Arizona State. For the loser, the season is over.
KEY MATCHUP
Cade Klubnik vs. Texas’ vaunted secondary. The Longhorns lead the nation in passing yards allowed (143.1 ppg), touchdown passes allowed (4) and rank third in interceptions (19). In other words, there is no argument Texas has the best secondary in the country. However, Klubnik will be the best quarterback the Longhorns have faced all year and yes, I am counting Georgia’s Carson Beck as well. The Tigers’ signal caller ranks third nationally with 33 TDs. His 40 total TDs are tied for second nationally. Also, Klubnik has thrown just five interceptions all season. Klubnik has rushed for 458 yards and ran for 7 TDs, while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Counting his 3,303 passing yards, the Clemson quarterback has 3,761combined total offensive yards. His 289.3 yards per game average ranks 12th nationally. Texas has struggled against quarterbacks who can run the football and the Longhorns have not faced a quarterback who can run and pass the ball as well as Klubnik.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
When Clemson running back Phil Mafah was healthy, he averaged 109 yards per game and ranked second in the ACC in rushing yards. However, he banged up his shoulder in the Tigers’ loss to Louisville on Nov. 2. He struggled through the last month and in the ACC Championship Game, and subsequently, so did the Clemson run game. The Tigers went from averaging over 200 yards a game on the ground and leading the ACC to 180.6 yards per game, which now ranks 5th in the ACC. What Mafah can give against Texas will go a long way in deciding the Tigers’ fate.
Like Mafah, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers spent most of the last month of the season and the SEC Championship Game banged up. Ewers foot, which is said to be better, has limited his mobility and also limited what he can do in the passing game. If Ewers struggles against the Tigers, especially with his mobility, one wonders if the Longhorns will call on backup quarterback Arch Manning in hopes of sparking the Texas offense. It is no secret Clemson has struggled to defend mobile quarterbacks this year.
THIS AND THAT
Texas is the only team in the country not to allow 330 total yards in any game. The most the Longhorns have allowed all season was 329 yards to Florida in a 42-17 home win on Nov. 9.
FINAL ANALYSIS
Texas is the better team. They have more talent, though not much more, and a better roster. The Longhorns are way better on defense. However, the wild card in this game is the Clemson defense’s ability to wreck the game. Texas turns the football over way too much, 22 times to be exact. The Tigers take care of the football, just nine turnovers all season. Clemson also forced turnovers, 25 in all. That plus 16-turnover margin, which is tied for third nationally, can give Clemson the opportunity it needs to stay in and ultimately win the game. Do I think it is going to happen, no, but crazier things have happened.
PREDICTION
Texas 20, Clemson 10