Clemson football vs. Texas in CFP first round today: Kick time, TV channel, score

The first round of the College Football Playoff is here.

Clemson is the No. 12 seed in the first-ever 12-team CFP bracket and faces No. 5 Texas on the road Saturday afternoon in Austin. The winner advances to play Arizona State in the Peach Bowl, and the loser’s season is over.

With the Tigers in win-or-go-home mode, here’s your gameday guide.

Clemson vs. Texas game, TV info

• Who: No. 12 Clemson (10-3) at No. 5 Texas (11-2)
• When: 4 p.m. Saturday
• Where: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin
• TV: TNT
• Broadcast crew: Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor, Laura Rutledge
• Stream: Via tntdrama.com
• Radio: 105.5 FM in the Clemson area (see all Clemson radio affiliates here)
• Satellite radio: SiriusXM Channel 81
• Series history: First meeting

Clemson vs. Texas: Vegas odds

Texas is a 12-point home favorite against Clemson, per the VegasInsider.com consensus betting line. The Longhorns opened as a 10.5-point favorite, and the point spread has slowly ticked up to 12 in most major sportsbooks.

It’s the biggest point spread Clemson has faced all year. The Tigers previously closed as a 10.5-point underdog to then-No. 1 Georgia in their season opener in Atlanta.

Weather forecast for Austin

While other first-round sites are anticipating snow, Austin will be mild and sunny. Per Weather.com, Saturday’s high is 63 degrees with clear skies and light winds. Sunset is around 5:35 p.m., and temperatures will drop to 42 overnight.

Top storylines for the game

• Texas (959) and Clemson (808) have combined to win 1,767 games. They’re both among the 13 winningest football programs in FBS history. But they’ve never played each other. That changes on Saturday, thanks to a 12-team CFP setup that’s bound to produce instant classics like this one annually. The Tigers, for what it’s worth, are 7-6 all-time in games played in the state of Texas with two straight wins: at Texas A&M and against Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl, both in 2018.

• Clemson’s got a situation at running back. Senior starter and leading rusher Phil Mafah has been dealing with a shoulder injury that will require postseason surgery. He’s playing through it, but he hasn’t looked close to the powerful, explosive runner he was earlier this year. Top backup RB Jay Haynes is out for the year after tearing his ACL in the ACC championship game. That leaves Clemson facing a top 15 run defense with a banged-up starter and three seldom-used backups. Keith Adams Jr., Jarvis Green and true freshman David Eziomume have all played 76 offensive snaps or fewer this season.

• If the running game is nonexistent, what’s the Tigers’ counter? Probably an all-time performance from quarterback Cade Klubnik. Clemson’s junior starter is coming off a four-touchdown performance in the ACC title game, and he’s third nationally in touchdowns responsible for with 40. An Austin native who’s returning to his hometown, Klubnik has also set career highs as a rusher this season. Don’t be surprised if he winds up around 60 to 70 plays of total offense (pass attempts and rushes) against the Longhorns. Clemson has a talented receiving group, but Texas has the nation’s No. 1 pass defense (143.1 yards per game allowed) and has surrendered just four — yes, four — passing TDs all year.

• Quarterback Quinn Ewers, a one-time high school rival of Klubnik, leads a steady Texas offense that averages 33.6 points per game. Meanwhile, Clemson’s defense faces lingering questions after the Tigers got torched by South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers and allowed 17 fourth-quarter points to SMU in their last two outings. One key factor: Turnovers. Texas has coughed up the ball 22 times this season (11 interceptions, 11 lost fumbles) and is tied for No. 112 nationally among 133 FBS teams in that stat. Clemson’s defense has forced 25 turnovers (No. 9 nationally) and has a plus-16 turnover margin (tied for No. 2 nationally).

Clemson vs. Texas players to watch

• Clemson WR Antonio Williams: Clemson’s All-ACC junior receiver has set career highs in every category and had a huge 17-yard catch to set up Nolan Hauser’s game-winning field goal in the conference title game.

• Clemson DE T.J. Parker: The Tigers aren’t deep at defensive end, but Parker has been a stud with 11 sacks, 19 TFLs and a school-record six forced fumbles.

• Texas WR Matthew Golden: Houston transfer had eight catches for a career-high 162 yards against a strong Georgia defense in the SEC championship game.

• Texas DB Jahdae Barro: The fifth-year senior was named the nation’s top defensive back and leads UT with five interceptions and nine pass breakups

Clemson 2024 schedule

• Aug. 31: vs. Georgia in Atlanta, L 34-3

• Sept. 7: vs. App State, W 66-20

• Sept. 14: OPEN

• Sept. 21: vs. NC State, W 59-35

• Sept. 28: vs. Stanford, W 40-14

• Oct. 5: at Florida State, W 29-16

• Oct. 12: at Wake Forest, W 49-14

• Oct. 19: vs. Virginia, W 48-31

• Oct. 26: OPEN

• Nov. 2: vs. Louisville, L 31-22

• Nov. 9: at Virginia Tech, W 24-14

• Nov. 16: at Pitt, W 24-20

• Nov. 23: vs. The Citadel, W 51-14

• Nov. 30: vs. South Carolina, L 17-14

• Dec. 7: ACC championship game vs. SMU in Charlotte, W 34-31

• Dec. 21: CFP first round at Texas, 4 p.m. (TNT)

Clemson 2024 depth chart

As of Dec. 16

Offense

QB: Cade Klubnik (Christopher Vizzina)

RB: Phil Mafah (Keith Adams Jr. OR Jarvis Green OR David Eziomume)

Outside WR: T.J. Moore (Cole Turner)

Slot WR: Antonio Williams (Tyler Brown)

Outside WR: Bryant Wesco Jr. OR Adam Randall (Cole Turner)

TE: Jake Briningstool (Olsen Patt-Henry)

LT: Tristan Leigh (Mason Wade)

LG: Marcus Tate (Harris Sewell)

C: Ryan Linthicum (Harris Sewell)

RG: Walker Parks (Harris Sewell)

RT: Blake Miller (Mason Wade)

Defense

DE: Jahiem Lawson (A.J. Hoffler)

DT: Payton Page (DeMonte Capehart)

DT: Peter Woods (Tré Williams)

DE: T.J. Parker (Cade Denhoff)

Strongside LB: Wade Woodaz (Jamal Anderson)

Middle LB: Wade Woodaz (Sammy Brown OR Dee Crayton)

Weakside LB: Barrett Carter (Sammy Brown OR Dee Crayton)

CB: Avieon Terrell (Ashton Hampton)

SS: Kylon Griffin OR Tyler Venables (Ricardo Jones)

FS: R.J. Mickens (Tyler Venables)

Nickelback: Khalil Barnes (Shelton Lewis)

CB: Jeadyn Lukus OR Ashton Hampton (Branden Strozier)

Special teams

PK: Nolan Hauser (Robert Gunn III)

P: Aidan Swanson (Jack Smith)

KO: Robert Gunn III

LS (PK): Holden Caspersen

LS (P): Philip Florenzo

H: Clay Swinney

PR: Antonio Williams

KOR: Adam Randall

This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 8:00 AM.

Chapel Fowler

The State

Chapel Fowler, the NSMA’s 2024 South Carolina Sportswriter of the Year, has covered Clemson football and other topics for The State since summer 2022. His work’s also been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors, the South Carolina Press Association and the North Carolina Press Association. He’s a Denver, N.C., native, a UNC-Chapel Hill alum and a pickup basketball enthusiast. Support my work with a digital subscription