AUSTIN, Texas — No. 13 Clemson acquired into the Faculty Soccer Playoff on a thunderous kick within the closing seconds of the ACC championship. No. 4 Texas limped in after an important common season was deflated by a irritating additional time loss to Georgia within the SEC title recreation.
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Now these two heavyweights meet for the primary time with even larger stakes: Their first spherical showdown within the newly expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff on Saturday is step one towards what each hope is a nationwide championship.
It issues little to Tigers coach Dabo Swinney {that a} program that when dominated the CFP has to go on the street because the lowest seed within the subject at No. 12. The Tigers are simply glad to be again within the hunt.
Clemson was all however forgotten after a season-opening humiliation by the hands of Georgia, and now has some swagger and a puncher’s probability of successful the entire thing. Clemson gained nationwide titles in 2016 and 2018 however missed the playoff the final 4 seasons.
“We’ve overcome a lot to get here. There are players who’ve never been in the playoff before, so this is a huge moment for them,” Swinney stated. “It’s going to be like a normal road game times a million, because this is playoff game … You gone fishin’ if you lose this one, as Charles Barkley likes to say. You win, you keep going. You lose, you’re done.”
Texas is the one considered one of final 12 months’s 4 playoff groups to make it into the expanded subject this season. The Longhorns peaked at No. 1 at midseason and there solely two losses had been to Georgia, the No. 2 seed within the playoff.
Fifth-seeded Texas earned the best to host the matchup, even when the final month was somewhat tough across the edges.
The Longhorns have been carried into the postseason by a dominant protection. However in three of the final 4 video games, Texas has been held to twenty factors or much less, with only one landing within the final six quarters.
The playoff is a reset. All Texas coach Steve Sarkisian sees is a event that stretches all the way in which to the Jan. 20 championship recreation. For 2 groups, there may be nonetheless a month of video games. The winner Saturday advances to the following spherical towards Large 12 champion and No. 4 seed Arizona State within the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.
“This is pretty exciting stuff, this new era of college football,” Sarkisian stated. Quarterback rivals
Quinn Ewers of Texas and Cade Klubnik of Clemson go manner again in a rivalry born out of their Texas roots. Klubnik led Austin Westlake over Ewers and Southlake Carroll in January 2021 for a Texas Class 6A state championship when each had been rated among the many high quarterback recruits within the nation. Klubnik returns to his house city to begin a quest for a nationwide title. Texas secondary
Klubnik faces arguably the most effective secondary within the nation. Cornerback Jahdae Barron gained the Thorpe Award as the highest defensive again, and security Michael Taaffe was a second-team All-American. Security Andrew Mukuba transferred from Clemson and has been one of many largest hitters on the staff. Texas has allowed simply 4 passing touchdowns this season. Particular groups
Clemson freshman Nolan Hauser is 17 of 23 on subject targets makes an attempt and three of 6 on kicks longer than 40 yards. A kind of was a doozy: a 56-yarder as time expired to win the ACC championship. Texas senior Bert Auburn’s 61 profession subject targets rank first in class historical past, however he’s 14 of 21 this season and simply 6 of 13 past 40 yards. Large Banks
Texas expects dominant offensive sort out Kelvin Banks Jr. again within the lineup after the junior missed many of the final two video games with an ankle damage. Banks gained the Outland and Lombardi awards introduced to the highest lineman in school soccer. Clemson has 28 sacks this season. Banks has surrendered only one. Working powerful
Klubnik is a twin risk as a passer and runner. However the Tigers additionally want an enormous recreation from tailback Phil Mafah, who has almost 1,200 yards this season. He has been restricted over the previous couple of video games with a nagging shoulder damage.
“He’s physical. He’s big,” stated Taaffe, the Texas security. “He jump cuts like he’s 150 pounds and then he runs the ball like he’s 260. He’s special.”
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