Introduction

In a thrilling first round of the College Football Playoff this past Saturday, Clemson faced off against Texas, resulting in a 38-24 defeat for the Tigers. ESPN analyst Booger McFarland shared his thoughts on the game, highlighting the impressive performance by the Longhorns’ offensive line and what led to Clemson's downfall at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.

Texas Offensive Line Dominance

McFarland praised the Texas offensive line for their commanding play, which contributed to four rushing touchdowns and a staggering 292 rushing yards—almost double the average Clemson had allowed throughout the season. The Tigers entered this matchup giving up an average of 150.5 rushing yards per game, which ranked 74th nationally. However, Texas effectively exploited this weakness by accumulating 148 rushing yards in just the first half, ultimately averaging 6.1 yards per carry for the game.

Exploiting Flaws

"All these teams in this tournament have flaws," McFarland noted. "You have to make them play to their flaws. If you look at Texas, their flaw in the end is when they can’t run the football, but you have to take it away, and Clemson couldn’t take it away." He pointed out that it wasn’t just one standout player; the Longhorns' running game was a collective effort featuring backs like Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner, who effectively mixed up their approach with runs both inside and out.

Key Players

Blue was a highlight of Texas' ground game, racking up 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a pivotal 77-yard sprint that came shortly after Clemson closed the gap to just seven points. McFarland emphasized how the Clemson defense misread Blue’s speed, stating, "It was almost as if the Clemson defenders didn’t understand how fast he was. They took bad angles… The dominance up front was established early on."

Clemson's Struggles

Clemson fought back in the second half, narrowing the deficit, but were ultimately thwarted by Texas's robust defense. One key moment was a critical fourth-down stop on the goal line, where Clemson's running back Keith Adams Jr. was halted just a yard short. McFarland criticized Clemson’s decision-making in that situation, suggesting that running the ball against Texas’s formidable defensive tackles was ill-advised.

Contrasting Running Games

In stark contrast to Texas's explosive rushing game, Clemson struggled severely, managing a mere 76 rushing yards on 24 attempts with a disappointing average of 3.2 yards per carry. Star running back Phil Mafah played with a shoulder injury and could only muster 9 yards on 2 carries.

Quarterback Performance

Despite this, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik showed resilience, completing 26 of 43 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns, along with one interception. His commendable efforts, however, proved insufficient amid a stalwart Texas defense. McFarland acknowledged Klubnik's talent, stating, "He played well, but they put too much on him," stressing that without a solid running game, Clemson over-relied on their quarterback, which proved to be a flawed strategy.

Conclusion

In summary, Texas’ ability to dominate the ground game and effectively neutralize Clemson's offensive strategy played a crucial role in their victory, sending the Longhorns forward in the playoffs while leaving the Tigers to reflect on what could have been a different outcome. The College Football Playoff ramifications of this game are significant, as Texas now moves on, while Clemson may need to reevaluate their offensive strategy heading into next season.