Texas’ Commanding Victory Over Clemson Highlights CFP First-Round Mismatches: Dominance in the Trenches
AUSTIN, Texas — Credit Clemson, especially quarterback Cade Klubnik, for battling to inject some late drama into Saturday's College Football Playoff first-round game.
The Tigers cut the deficit to one score early in the fourth quarter and were on the brink of doing so again with a drive that reached Texas’ 5-yard line. Tension filled Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Then came the decisive moment: three consecutive rushing attempts stuffed by the Longhorns’ dominant defensive front, sealing a 38-24 victory for Texas and punching their ticket to the CFP quarterfinals, where they’ll face Arizona State.
Familiar Trends Emerge in Expanded CFP
The third game of the newly expanded CFP format featured thrilling on-campus energy but followed an all-too-common pattern: an initially competitive game devolving into a lopsided result.
Texas maintained a three-score lead for much of the game before Clemson's late push added some intrigue. The Tigers' effort mirrored the broader results of the day, where physical mismatches decided outcomes:
- Penn State 38, SMU 10: A blowout driven by two pick-sixes and total line dominance.
- Notre Dame 27, Indiana 17: A game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggested, with Indiana unable to muster any offensive momentum.
- Ohio State 42, Tennessee 17: The Buckeyes silenced the Vols early, jumping to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and cruising from there.
The Battle in the Trenches
Texas’ victory showcased the power of physical dominance at the line of scrimmage. The Longhorns bulldozed Clemson’s defensive front, amassing 292 rushing yards, including explosive touchdown runs of 77 and 38 yards by Jaydon Blue. Conversely, Clemson managed just 76 yards on the ground, with Klubnik frequently under siege from a relentless Texas pass rush.
“I always emphasize what it takes to win each game,” said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. “One of the first points this week was ‘Run to win.’ We needed to run the ball effectively to win this game, and that’s the formula we’ll stick to in the playoffs.”
Sarkisian’s sentiment was echoed across the day’s results. Notre Dame and Penn State also dominated their matchups on the ground and in the trenches, leaving little doubt about the importance of controlling the line of scrimmage.
Selection Controversy
The results reignited debates over the selection process, with critics questioning the inclusion of teams like Indiana and SMU, who seemed physically overmatched. Even Clemson, with its CFP pedigree and talented quarterback, was outclassed by Texas’ physicality.
“Strength of schedule. Strength of record. Analytics. Data points — all of it goes into the committee’s decisions, but in the end, who knows if it really matters?” noted one analyst. “In this format, the ability to dominate up front appears to be the ultimate deciding factor.”
Social media added fuel to the fire. ESPN commentator Dick Vitale clapped back at Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin after he criticized the inclusion of certain teams, reminding him of Ole Miss’ own stumbles this season.
A Blueprint for Success
For all the complexities of playoff selection, Saturday’s results offered a clear takeaway: games are won and lost in the trenches. Texas, Penn State, and Notre Dame all leaned on their offensive and defensive lines to control the game and dictate terms.
The Longhorns, who lacked a victory over a CFP Top 25 team and didn’t win their conference championship, still proved their worth with a physicality-first approach. Their opening drives set the tone, with Texas’ offensive line paving the way for a trio of run-heavy touchdown marches.
“It was clear from the first series that Texas was going to dominate,” one commentator observed. “Their ability to push Clemson’s defense around was the defining factor.”
Moving Forward
As the CFP committee continues to refine its selection process, the role of line play looms large. While advanced metrics and résumés provide valuable insights, Saturday’s games underscored the importance of fundamentals like blocking and tackling.
Though mismatches are an inevitable part of football, the expanded CFP format offers a chance to mitigate them with more games and opportunities for upsets. Until then, Texas’ victory serves as a reminder that, even in the modern era of explosive offenses, championships often come down to old-school dominance in the trenches.
