Tag: texas

Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day before the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ohio State favored to repeat as Big 10, SEC dominate odds

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fresh off the program’s first national title since 2014, Ohio State has been installed as the favorite to repeat as the College Football Playoff champions next season.

The Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame 34-23 on Monday night and are already the +450 favorites at DraftKings to repeat the feat.

Texas, which lost to Ohio State in this season’s semifinals, has the second shortest odds at +500, followed by Georgia at +550 and Oregon at +750. Of note is that each of the top four early favorites will be starting new quarterbacks in 2025.

The top six spots are all filled with Big 10 and SEC programs, including Penn State and returning quarterback Drew Allar at +900 for fifth on the list. Alabama is sixth at +1200. Independent Notre Dame has been installed with the seventh-shortest odds at +1600.

FanDuel opened with the same top five: Ohio State (+450), Texas (+650), Oregon (+650), Georgia (+700) and Penn State (+850).

Clemson has the shortest odds among ACC schools at DraftKings at +2000 ahead of Miami at +2500. Kansas State and Arizona State lead the way for the Big 12, albeit at longshot odds with both at +9000.

The first non-Power 4/independent team on the list is the Mountain West’s Boise State. The Broncos have been installed at +20000 following their run to this year’s quarterfinals.

Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes have to replace Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The Buffs have been installed with +10000 odds — the same as North Carolina with new coach Bill Belichick.

CFP 2024-25 TITLE ODDS*
Ohio State (+450)
Texas (+500)
Georgia (+550)
Oregon (+750)
Penn State (+900)
Alabama (+1200)
Notre Dame (+1600)
LSU (+2000)
Clemson (+2000)
Tennessee (+2000)
Miami, Fla. (+2500)
Ole Miss (+2500)
Michigan (+3000)
Texas A&M (+3500)
South Carolina (+4000)
Florida (+6000)
Southern Cal (+7000)
Oklahoma (+7000)
Auburn (+8000)
SMU (+8000)
Kansas State (+9000)
Arizona State (+9000)
Louisville (+10000)
North Carolina (+10000)
*DraftKings

–Field Level Media

Jan 10, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Report: Texas, Steve Sarkisian agree to 7-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After reportedly turning down interviews with two NFL teams regarding their coaching vacancies, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian agreed to a new seven-year deal, ESPN reported on Saturday.

Per ESPN’s report, the deal tacks on another year to Sarkisian’s existing contract and ensures he will be among college football’s highest-paid coaches.

The Action Network was first to report on the contract agreement and also reported that the Longhorns coach declined to interview for an NFL job.

Sarkisian, 50, guided Texas to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where the Longhorns fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10.

In their first season in the SEC, the Longhorns lost the conference title game to Georgia then won two CFP playoff games before they were eliminated.

In four seasons at Texas, Sarkisian is 38-17, including a Big 12 title win in 2023. Including stops at Washington (2009-13) and USC (2014-15), he is 84-52 as a head coach.

Sarkisian served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Nick Saban in 2016 and has NFL coaching experience on the staffs of the then-Oakland Raiders (2004) and the Atlanta Falcons (2017-18).

–Field Level Media

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) throws to wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) during the first half of the College Football Playoff first round game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 21, 2024.

Task for No. 5 Texas: Stop the receivers for No. 8 Ohio State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

There are plenty of storylines heading into this year’s Cotton Bowl, where two of the winningest programs in college football history will face off for a chance to play for the College Football Playoff national championship.

Still, when No. 5 Texas (13-2) and No. 8 Ohio State (12-2) meet in a semifinal matchup on Friday night in Arlington, Texas, the attention will be focused on the quarterbacks.

Ohio State’s Will Howard played against Texas when he was at Kansas State, but the Wildcats went 0-4 versus the Longhorns in those years. Texas’ Quinn Ewers, meanwhile, started his college career with the Buckeyes before transferring to his home state’s school.

“That was the only team I didn’t beat when I was in the Big 12,” Howard said. “There’s definitely a little extra motivation because I never got the chance to beat these guys, played them for four years. They’re always a good team, but I don’t think — none of those games were unwinnable. Last year we lost in overtime. So, definitely excited to get another chance at these guys.”

Ewers, who went to high school about 20 miles from AT&T Stadium at Southlake Carroll, has never faced his former team and only had positive things to say about his one semester with the Buckeyes.

“I don’t regret any decision I’ve made on going or anything like that, but the main reason I went was I felt like I had a great relationship with the coaching staff,” Ewers said of his time at Ohio State. “And they were winning a lot of games, and I wanted to go be a part of something like that.

“The reason that I came back to Texas was, one, to be closer to where I’m from and just closer to the resources that I have and the relationships that I’ve built over time just being from Texas.”

Despite the neutral site, this is a home game for Texas. Still, the Buckeyes have a 3-1 record at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, including a 42-20 win over Oregon in January 2015 to win the first College Football Playoff national championship.

Ten years later, Texas will need to contain Ohio State’s dynamic receiving corps led by Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka, who combined for 2,120 yards and 24 touchdown receptions. Each made 70 catches.

“Yeah, they’ve got an impressive group out at receiver,” Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe said. “They’ve got four or five guys that are really dangerous. Obviously, Jeremiah is really good. Obviously, Emeka, No. 2, is elite. … They’ve got guys you’ve got to respect out there.”

In Ohio State’s 41-21 shellacking of No. 1 Oregon in the CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, Howard threw for 319 yards, with Smith hauling in seven catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.

Another question is whether Texas can get its running game going after averaging just 1.8 yards in its 39-31 double-overtime victory over Arizona State in the quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl. The Longhorns’ season average is 4.5 yards per attempt.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian addressed the running game issues this week.

“We’re at our best when we can run it,” he said. “That gives us balance. So, I’m hard-pressed not to kind of just walk away from it and abandon it. We’ve got to do a great job as a staff of putting together a good game plan and making sure that our players can execute it at a high level.”

Ohio State undoubtedly will be looking to get off to another fast start. The Buckeyes took a 34-8 lead into halftime against Ohio State and were up 21-0 after one quarter in their 42-17 win over No. 9 Tennessee in their first-round playoff game.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said the only motivation his team needs is simply staying alive in the championship race.

“One thing that does motivate our team is an opportunity for the team to play for another week together,” he said. “And this is a great group of guys that cares a lot about each other, have fun with each other. They love competing with each other. You can see the passion on the field when they get on the field. The way that this format is and the way the playoffs are set now, it allows us an opportunity to grow as a team and to learn and to get better and to peak late in the season.”

The winner will meet the winner of Thursday night’s Orange Bowl between No. 6 Penn State and No. 7 Notre Dame in the CFP championship on Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

–Field Level Media

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte, left, with football coach Steve Sarkisian, right.

Texas AD on NFL interest in Steve Sarkisian: ‘That’s stupid’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte has heard the reports of purported NFL interest in Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian and doesn’t much appreciate the timing four days before the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Cotton Bowl.

Del Conte hired Sarkisian as head coach at Texas and 51 weeks ago signed him to a four-year contract extension as the job at Alabama opened due to Nick Saban’s retirement.

But the timing of the latest reports, including from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that NFL teams could kick the tires on Sarkisian didn’t sit well with Del Conte.

“We’ve got a game to play,” he told the Houston Chronicle. “I’m not going to comment. Somebody’s just creating fodder before our biggest game. That’s stupid.”

Texas plays Ohio State on Friday in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns are in college football’s final four for the second consecutive year. The Longhorns lost 37-31 to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl last January.

NFL interest isn’t news for Sarkisian. He previously worked as an assistant coach with the Falcons and Raiders.

Sarkisian, in his fourth season at Texas, is under contract through the 2030 season. He received a pay increase to more than $10 million from $5.6 million annually last January, when Del Conte said Texas was “never worried” about Sarkisian bolting back to Alabama. Sarkisian was offensive coordinator under Saban with the Crimson Tide.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) and Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) push each other during the second half of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

No. 5 Texas blows big lead, recovers to beat No. 4 Arizona State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ATLANTA — Quinn Ewers threw a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown to Gunnar Helm, helping No. 5 Texas beat No. 4 Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime on Wednesday in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Peach Bowl.

Texas’ Andrew Mukuba intercepted Sam Leavitt on the ensuing possession, clinching the win for Texas (13-2), which squandered a 16-point fourth-quarter lead. Ewers completed 20 of 30 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Matthew Golden caught seven passes for 149 yards and a score.

Up next for Texas is the winner of the Rose Bowl between No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State. That contest is slated to be played in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10.

Cam Skattebo had 242 all-purpose yards, including 143 rushing, to go along with three total touchdowns for Arizona State (11-3).

After Skattebo rushed for a 3-yard touchdown on overtime’s opening possession, Ewers connected with Golden for a game-tying 28-yard touchdown pass on fourth and 13.

Trailing by 14 at halftime, Arizona State took its opening drive of the second half to Texas’ 2-yard line, where it was turned away on third and fourth downs, turning the ball over on downs for the third time.

Arizona State salvaged the opportunity on the ensuing play, as Shamari Simmons forced Quintrevion Wisner’s fumble in the end zone, where it was recovered by Ewers for a safety, cutting Texas’ lead to 17-5 with 6:51 left in the third quarter.

The Sun Devils cut into the deficit on their next possession with Carston Kieffer’s 36-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining in the third.

Texas then found the end zone for the first time since the first quarter, as its 13-play, 76-yard drive was stamped with Ewers’ 5-yard touchdown rush with 10:17 left in the fourth quarter.

Arizona State pulled within one score on its next drive, as Skattebo’s 42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain was followed by Leavitt’s pass to Xavier Guillory on the two-point conversion with 6:31 left.

Ewers was then intercepted by Javan Robinson and Leavitt completed a 62-yard pass to Skattebo, setting up Skattebo’s 2-yard rushing touchdown and game-tying two-point conversion with five minutes remaining.

Texas kicker Bert Auburn then missed field goals on consecutive Texas drives, including a 38-yarder as time expired.

Arizona State took a 3-0 lead on Kieffer’s 39-yard field goal at the 8:59 mark of the first quarter. Ewers answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr.45 seconds later.

Texas tacked on with Silas Bolden’s 75-yard punt return touchdown, extending the Longhorns’ lead to 14-3 with 7:08 remaining.

Texas added three points on Auburn’s 22-yard field goal with 8:54 left in the second quarter. Kieffer’s 36-yard field goal was blocked with 11 seconds left, preserving Texas’ 17-3 halftime lead.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) takes the field before the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Playoff First Round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Texas QB Arch Manning has ‘no plans’ to enter transfer portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas backup quarterback Arch Manning said he intends to return to the Longhorns next season, despite rumors he would enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Speaking Monday in advance of No. 5 seed Texas’ College Football Playoff quarterfinal appearance against No. 4 Arizona State at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Manning said he intends to continue suiting up in burnt orange.

While the portal closed Dec. 28, players on teams still involved in bowl games have an extended window.

“I really have no plans on entering the portal or anything so I don’t really know about it, about the whole windows and everything,” Manning said.

Manning, a redshirt freshman, made the statement without a public declaration from starter Quinn Ewers about his status for 2025. Ewers hasn’t confirmed a mid-December report that he’d enter the 2025 NFL Draft. That is an option for Ewers, as is returning to Texas or transferring.

The No. 1-ranked player in the Class of 2023 coming out of Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, Manning appeared in two games last season. But in 2024, with an abdominal injury to Ewers, Manning started two games and played in seven others.

On the season, he has completed 67.8 percent of his pass attempts (61 of 90) for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed 24 times for 100 yards with four scores.

He went 2-0 as a starter against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. He has taken situational snaps since Ewers’ return.

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) and offensive lineman Leif Fautanu (79) and quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrate during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

No. 4 Arizona State bids to continue stunning season vs. No. 5 Texas in Peach Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

They weren’t expected to win their conference. They certainly weren’t expected to qualify for the College Football Playoff.

Nonetheless, the fourth-seeded Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2) have a chance to earn perhaps the biggest win in program history when they battle fifth-seeded Texas (12-2) in a CFP quarterfinal on New Year’s Day at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

The winner will meet either top-seeded Oregon or No. 8 seed Ohio State in a semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 in Arlington, Texas.

Projected last in the preseason Big 12 poll, Arizona State secured an automatic bid to its first CFP with a 45-19 drubbing of Iowa State in the conference championship on Dec. 7.

Despite the Sun Devils boasting 311 fewer all-time victories than the Longhorns, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham doesn’t see the matchup as David versus Goliath.

“No, I wouldn’t say that,” Dillingham said. “I would say this is a really good football team that was predicted to win a national championship versus the Big 12 champion. I’m excited to see our guys go out there and compete.”

Riding a six-game winning streak, Arizona State will have rested for 24 days by the time New Year’s Day rolls around, admittedly an obstacle Dillingham’s team will have to overcome.

“Not playing a game for 3 1/2 weeks is definitely a challenge,” Dillingham said. “Especially because we were playing our best football. … We really dominated the end of the season, in my opinion.”

Averaging 34.5 points per game, the Sun Devils’ offense is led by quarterback Sam Leavitt’s 2,663 passing yards and 29 total touchdowns, alongside running back Cam Skattebo’s 1,568 rushing yards and 19 scores.

An upstart Arizona State squad enters Wednesday’s game as nearly two-touchdown underdogs, much due to Texas’ stingy defense, which allows the second-fewest points per game in college football (13.3).

The Longhorns have slipped twice this season, to Georgia, first in a 30-15 home loss on Oct. 19, then in a 22-19 overtime defeat in the Southeastern Conference title game on Dec. 7.

Appearing in its second straight CFP, Texas pulled away from visiting Clemson in the opening round last Saturday to win 38-24. Now preparing for the Longhorns’ second all-time meeting with Arizona State (2007 Holiday Bowl), coach Steve Sarkisian doesn’t take December football for granted.

“To be a part of this game is a fantastic honor,” Sarkisian said. “We’re really proud of the fact that we’ve gotten to this point. We obviously have a ton of respect for Arizona State and the job coach Dillingham has done. They’re a very good football team. We know how hard it is to win the Big 12.”

Last time out, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 202 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but the Longhorns shredded the Clemson defense with 292 rushing yards. Jaydon Blue ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, paired with Quintrevion Wisner’s 110 yards and two scores.

“We needed to run the ball to beat Clemson, and we’re going to need to run the football to keep advancing in these playoffs,” Sarkisian said. “That’s what playoff football is about. … There’s a lot that goes into the run game. It takes all 11 to run the ball.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Jaydon Blue (23) scores a touchdown against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Imagesn Images

No. 5 Texas runs away from No. 12 Clemson, off to CFP quarterfinals

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jaydon Blue rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including a 77-yard score in the fourth quarter, as No. 5 seed Texas ran to a 38-24 win over 12th-seeded Clemson on Saturday afternoon in a College Football Playoff first-round game in Austin, Texas.

The Longhorns (12-2) advance to the CFP quarterfinals, where they’ll square off against fourth-seeded Arizona State, the Big 12 champion, on Jan. 1 in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

Quinn Ewers passed for 202 yards and a score and Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards and two TDs 15 yards on 15 carries for Texas, which outgained Clemson 292-76 on the ground.

The Longhorns’ defense stopped Clemson on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 7:24 left. Texas then produced a final march that chewed up almost six minutes of the clock.

Cade Klubnik, who played his prep football in Austin, passed for 336 yards and three TDs to keep the Tigers in the game. Nine of Klubnik’s 26 completions on 43 throws went to T.J. Moore, who had 116 receiving yards and a touchdown catch.

Everything went right for the Tigers on the game’s opening possession, on which they used 12 snaps and nearly seven minutes to drive 75 yards to a 22-yard TD pass from Klubnik to Antonio Williams.

Texas responded with its own 75-yard, 12-play march that culminated in a 3-yard scoring run up the middle by Wisner with 2:04 to play in the first quarter.

The Longhorns got a 38-yard touchdown sprint by Blue with 12:49 to play in the second quarter and then a 16-yard TD run by Wisner 5 1/2 minutes later to push their lead to 21-7.

Clemson’s Nolan Hauser hit a 32-yard field goal with 1:33 left in the second quarter. Texas answered with a 19-yard TD pass from Ewers to Gunnar Helm that extended the Longhorns’ lead to 28-10 at the break.

Bert Auburn added a 22-yard field goal on the Longhorns’ opening drive of the third quarter.

Klubnik found Jarvis Green out of the backfield for a nifty 25-yard TD pass to pull the Tigers to within 31-17 with 3:29 to play in the third. He then connected with Moore on a 7-yard scoring pass on fourth down with 11:43 remaining to bring Clemson to within seven points.

On the second play of Texas’s ensuing drive, Blue broke free and streaked down the left sideline to lift the Longhorns back up by two scores.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Andre Turrentine (2) takes a peak into the backfield against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

College Football Playoff notebook: Tennessee’s Andre Turrentine returns to Ohio State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 9 seed Tennessee will make its first visit to No. 8 Ohio State on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN), but Volunteers safety Andre Turrentine will be in a familiar setting at Ohio Stadium for the first-round matchup of the College Football Playoff.

He played in four games for the Buckeyes (10-2) as a freshman in 2021 before the Nashville native joined the Vols.

“I know a lot of guys on that team, so just having that brotherhood and camaraderie from being a freshman there is going to be big in this game and big for me personally,” said Turrentine, a redshirt junior.

He has 35 tackles and one interception in starting all 12 games for the Vols (10-2) this season.

Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles feels prepared for Tennessee’s fast-paced offense, which averages 74.6 plays per game to rank 11th nationally.

“Our defense is built for tempo,” he said.

–No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) quarterback Riley Leonard loves the idea of playing for a national championship, but as he told Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports, the matchup with the No. 10 Hoosiers (11-1) on Friday in South Bend, Ind., (8 p.m., ABC/ESPN) is also about regional pride.

“It’s huge for the state of Indiana. We’ve been talking about it becoming a football state,” he said. “It’s notorious for basketball, for obvious reasons.”

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti on how the game will play out: “I think we’re plus-15 on turnover ratio, and they’re plus-16. So, ball security for us and them is going to be really important — winning the turnover battle.”

–Even though No. 6 Penn State (11-2) lost to No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Nittany Lions were buoyed by running for 292 yards. Now, they host No. 11 SMU (11-2), which is ranked fourth nationally at 93.4 rushing yards allowed per game.

“Our expectation is that that’s what we’re supposed to do every single game,” Penn State center Nick Dawkins said. “I don’t think it matters the opponent that we played against.”

SMU coach Rhett Lashlee on the perceived advantage Penn State will have with a forecast high of 28 degrees: “They have to play in it just like we do and I don’t think they’ve played a game at home on Dec. 21, either. I don’t think the weather is a big deal.”

–No. 5 Texas coach Steve Sarkisian expects big things from quarterback Quinn Ewers when the Longhorns (11-2) host No. 12 Clemson on Saturday (4 p.m., TNT/MAX).

“We’ve all got to take our game to another level, and he’s no different, right?” Sarkisian said. “He’s got to do it.”

Actor Matthew McConaughey is a Longhorns super fan but that doesn’t mean much to defensive lineman T.J. Parker of Clemson (10-3).

“I don’t know who that is,” the sophomore said on Tuesday. “I may know his face, but not by name. I don’t know him.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) celebrates after winning the 2024 ACC Championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Storylines galore when No. 5 Texas, No. 12 Clemson clash in playoffs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 5 seed Texas and No. 12 seed Clemson are set to clash in a captivating first-round matchup in the College Football Playoff on Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas.

The winner will advance to the CFP quarterfinals, with fourth seed Arizona State awaiting in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta on Jan. 1. Texas opened as a 10 1/2-point favorite in the first-ever meeting between the storied programs, the largest favorite of any first-round game.

The Longhorns (11-2) look to rebound from a 22-19 overtime loss to then-No. 5 Georgia in the Southeastern Conference championship. The Tigers (10-3) earned the final spot in the CFP with a last-second 34-31 win over then-No. 8 SMU in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.

Texas battled to the end and beyond in the loss to Georgia, dominating the first half despite quarterback Quinn Ewers playing with a sprained right ankle and with left tackle Kelvin Banks (who won the Outland Trophy as college football’s best interior lineman) on the shelf, also with an ankle injury.

Both are expected to be healthy for Saturday’s game. Ewers was asked Monday about his health and his role as the focal point of the Longhorns’ offense.

“I feel good. It was good to get some time off,” Ewers explained. “I just try to get the ball to the playmakers and let them go to work at the end of the day. It sounds like a simple answer, but that’s how simple it is.”

Both of Texas’ losses this season have been to Georgia, and the two setbacks cost the Longhorns the chance to capture a SEC championship in their first year in the vaunted league.

“To come off two weeks after the SEC championship, this game is pretty exciting,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “One of the concerns always for us as coaches is that long layoff. How do you keep your team sharp and how do you keep them competitive, yet in the same token heal and get healthy?”

The Tigers used their considerable big-game experience, the arm and legs of quarterback Cade Klubnik and a 56-yard final-play field goal from freshman kicker Nolan Hauser to advance to the CFP.

Clemson battled through a campaign in which it was routed by Georgia in the season opener and lost at home to Louisville and South Carolina.

To advance, the Tigers will have to play their best in what’s sure to be an unfriendly venue.

“It’s hard when you have everything against you, but it’s fun too,” said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, a two-time national champion. “This is as good as it gets. Somebody asked me today, ‘What it’s going to be like?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s going to be like a normal road game, times a million.’”

Klubnik has completed 63.7 percent of his throws this season, racking up 3,303 yards and 33 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He’s added another 458 yards and seven TDs on the ground.

The Tigers’ junior signal-caller is from Austin and he was a prep star at Austin Westlake, the school that also produced quarterbacks Drew Brees and Nick Foles. Klubnik and Ewers went head-to-head in a high school state championship game, with Klubnik leading Westlake to the victory.

Ewers, who led Texas to the four-team CFP a year ago, threw for 2,665 yards and 25 TDs this season.

Swinney said Tuesday that Clemson running back Phil Mafah (1,106 rushing yards, eight rushing TDs in 2024) will play against the Longhorns despite a shoulder injury that will require surgery after the season.

“Mafah’s going to give us everything he’s got,” Swinney said. “He’s a guy we have to have play well for sure.”

–Field Level Media