Did Texas win over the critics with the CFP’s elimination of Clemson? Things only get harder from here

AUSTIN – The Dodge Bowl quarterbacks rematch went better for Quinn Ewers on Saturday than it did in the state title game four years ago, when the stakes weren’t as high, except if you never went to high school. Cade Klubnik will always have JerryWorld. But the first-ever college football playoff game at Royal Memorial Stadium belongs to Ewers.

On a brilliant afternoon that wasn’t as harsh as the ridicule Ewers has increasingly faced this season, the Texas junior quarterback passed, even ran and generally avoided the encroachments of his backup.

Unless, of course, Arch Manning’s usual one-and-done run does it for you.

Fifth-seeded Texas did a lot right in a 38-24 win over 12th-seeded Clemson in front of 101,150 spectators.

Got his running game back on track after it stalled badly against Georgia.

Got a critical stand at the goal line as Clemson threatened late.

Otherwise, what does a win over the team that beat SMU — which was thrust into the spotlight by Penn State — mean for the Longhorns’ resume?

That means they get to play Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day.

“It’s not about ‘What did it look like?'” Steve Sarkisian said. “The question is: ‘Did you end up with one point more than the other team?’

“We weren’t perfect.”

At this time of year, winning is enough because the beauty pageant is over. It is no longer in the hands of the committee. The Sun Devils, Big 12 champions, will undoubtedly be a bigger problem than Clemson, but the Longhorns probably won’t win over any critics until the Cotton Bowl semifinals, assuming they make it that far.

From here on out, things just get more difficult on a few fronts. In addition to improving competition, the question is how much of their offensive line will be intact in ten days. In a disastrous series late in the first half, Texas lost three players and the ball. Quintrevion Wisner, who ran for 110 yards and half of the Longhorns’ four rushing touchdowns, eventually returned. But senior center Jake Majors and right tackle Cam Williams, projected to be a first-round pick in April, were all but done for the day.

Williams, who took a long time to leave the field even with help, required an MRI of his right knee after the game. The Majors could have returned, Sark said, but they moved Hayden Conner from left guard to center. Trevor Goosby, who replaced Kelvin Banks Jr. when left tackle was unavailable in the SEC title game against Georgia, took Williams’ spot at right tackle.

The fact that two-fifths of the offensive line was reorganized midway through the game made the Longhorns’ next drive all the more impressive. Actually the best of the day. Ewers, looking as mobile as he has all season, found Jaydon Blue for 21 yards, gained 11 yards and then hit Gunnar Helm, who broke the school’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end, in the back of the end zone.

“Me and Gunnar have a great connection,” Ewers said.

“He just always seems open.”

Ewers has come a long way since Southlake Carroll’s 52-34 loss in the 2020 Class 6A state championship game to a Klubnik-led Austin Westlake team. The Clemson quarterback had better numbers on Saturday, going 24 of 38 for 305 yards and three touchdowns. He was also the Tigers’ primary rusher with 13 runs, although most of his contribution was statistically offset by Texas’ seven sacks.

The Longhorns’ defense, the best in the country, struggled at the back, allowing Klubnik to nibble at the rim with some great throws and catches. After trailing 28-10 at halftime, he cut Texas’ lead with a touchdown late in the third quarter.

“He’s a really outstanding player,” Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski said. “He can hurt you with his arm; He can hurt you with his legs.

“There’s no end to this guy.”

The same goes for Ewers, who recognized a defensive formation he had seen in practice and heard a play in progress after Clemson snuck up on him. Blue, who finished the game with 146 yards rushing, did the rest of the work with an electrifying 77-yard touchdown.

Ewers’ numbers were workmanlike compared to Klubnik’s. Finished 17 of 24 for 202 yards and a touchdown. The interception wasn’t his fault, the ball bounced off DeAndre Moore Jr. and landed in the hands of Southlake Carroll’s RJ Mickens, Ray’s son. He would have turned it into a pick-six if there hadn’t been a questionable blindside block call against Clemson.

The timing of the throw seemed egregious given Texas’ success running the ball. With the score at 21-7, former Georgia TV analyst David Pollack tweeted, “Texas may not need to pass the ball again.” But like all offensive coordinators, especially those considered geniuses, Sark doesn’t mind bragging rights.

He then acknowledged what was evident in the losses to Georgia and what needed to happen from now on.

“Our offense is better,” he said, “when we can execute.”

The offense needs to pick up the pace a bit because Texas’ defense is good enough to win it all. Make a late stop at the Longhorns 1-yard line on consecutive plays. Might have been the best moment of the entire season because the defense is better than anyone else, even if Kwiatkowski doesn’t get much credit for it.

“Without these guys working at a high level,” he said, “I look like an idiot.”

For the record: Any coach who gets involved in an analysis is a hit with me.

Twitter/X: @KSherringtonDMN

So far, so good: See photos from Texas’ first-round College Football Playoff win over Clemson in Austin

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