GAME DAY! Horns vs Clemson – CFP Rd 1

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

DMAC gets it. Y'all ought to read CTJ's epistle on Surly. He puts it out there thump by thump. The term he uses is "mudhole"

Texas....a lot!

Clemson....a lot less!

Can you copy and paste here or at least post the link? I can't find iit.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

College Football Playoff First Round Preview: No. 5 Texas vs No. 12 Clemson​

BY MITCH LOVELL

December 19, 2024

The Texas Longhorns fell short in the SEC Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs, losing 22-19 in overtime. It was the second time Georgia got the better of Texas in 2024. The Bulldogs are a bad matchup for Texas, but the Longhorns very much had the opportunity to win an SEC title in their first season in the league. The loss needs to be put in the rearview mirror with the focus being squarely on getting three consecutive wins, which will allow the ‘Horns to play in their first national championship game since 2009.


Texas has a unique opportunity to host a playoff game in the first year of the expanded playoff format. Saturday’s contest at DKR will not be an easy one for the Longhorns, as they welcome the ACC Champion Clemson Tigers to town. This Clemson team looks different than the previous ones led by quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence and Deshaun Watson, but Dabo Swinney is one of just two active head coaches with a national championship. Swinney will have the Tigers and current quarterback Cade Klubnik ready to play regardless of the 12-point spread in Vegas.

READ ALSO​

Scouting Report: Clemson​

X-factors to watch in Texas’ game against Clemson [VIDEO]​

Whichever Team Wins the Turnover Battle Wins the Game

Whoever wins the turnover battle will win this football game. The Texas offense has not been the unit many thought it would be entering the 2024 season, especially of late. A large reason for that is the lack of ball security. In the last six quarters, the Texas offense has committed four turnovers. That is entirely too many, regardless of who you are playing. Against Texas A&M, the pick-six in the red zone and the fumble by Quinn Ewers in the red zone kept the Aggies in the game in the second half. The two interceptions against Georgia didn’t haunt Texas, but they put the Texas defense in terrible positions and left no room for error.


In the ACC Championship victory over SMU, Clemson won the turnover battle 2-0. The two SMU turnovers led to seven Clemson points but could have been more. Following an SMU fumble, Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser uncharacteristically missed a 44-yard field goal. Hauser would go on to make a 56-yarder as time expired to give the Tigers the win. Should Texas turn the ball over like it has lately, Clemson will make them pay. Winning the turnover battle is the easiest path for a Clemson upset victory in Austin.

Can Texas Establish the Run?

The Longhorns suffered a big loss the first week of fall practice when starting running back CJ Baxter suffered a season-ending knee injury. Baxter was supposed to be a large part of the 2024 Texas offense. That led to bigger roles than expected for Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner. Blue has talent, especially with his speed, but ball security has been an issue. Steve Sarkisian then changed things up and featured Wisner as the lead back since the Oklahoma game. Wisner has shown great ability this year but the offensive line has not helped the running game, especially against Georgia.

The success of the run game has indicated if Texas is successful as an offense. An example is in the SEC Championship, the Longhorns struggled to run the ball and therefore struggled to move the ball as a whole, offensively. SMU doesn’t run the ball like Texas does but the last team Clemson played similar to Texas’ running game was South Carolina. South Carolina has the dual-threat quarterback that Texas does not, but they still ran for 267 yards and averaged over 6 yards a carry in the 17-14 upset. If Texas can manage 5-yards a carry it will make for a long day for Clemson’s defense. The bottom line is Texas should win this game, but if they run the ball well and win the turnover battle, it’s hard to see a path to a Clemson upset.

https://hornsports.com/college-football-playoff-first-round-preview-no-5-texas-vs-no-12-clemson/

 

[dssl]

Probably because he still thinks that Quinn gives us our best chance to win. I guarantee that is the only metric Sark cares about right now.

Assuming a redshirt freshmen with limited experience playing college ball is the solution is shortsighted. It's a classic example of the backup QB being the most popular player on a team.

The decision is probably a bit more complicated. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps Quinn is less likely to throw interception, but is way less of a threat to run. Seems like Arch throws a better deep ball, although I'm not sure we have a big enough sample size to know for sure.

Sark has to try to win, but he also has to consider future recruiting. To not start Quinn in the playoff game would send a message to future recruited that Sark is willing to pull his star QB before he has the opportunity to showcase his talents on the biggest stage.

Sark will start Quinn, and Arch will see the field, how much will depend on how the game goes for Quinn. Hopefully we see Quinn's A game and Arch doesn't play much

 

[DMAC]

Can you copy and paste here or at least post the link? I can't find iit.

​

Why Texas Stomps a Mudhole In Clemson's Ass

When Dabo Swinney was named Clemson's full time head coach in December of 2008, he did the most Mack Brown thing possible that a Mack Brown Jr. type could do. He started calling around the HC coaching fraternity, asking to come visit and sit down with various HCs across the land. Many turned swee...

www.surlyhorns.com

Good read thanks @oldhorn2

LOL @ the avatar for closetojumping - Burnt Ends

 

[oldhorn2]

I cannot copy and paste from my phone

 

[BWilk55]

The decision is probably a bit more complicated. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Perhaps Quinn is less likely to throw interception, but is way less of a threat to run. Seems like Arch throws a better deep ball, although I'm not sure we have a big enough sample size to know for sure.

Sark has to try to win, but he also has to consider future recruiting. To not start Quinn in the playoff game would send a message to future recruited that Sark is willing to pull his star QB before he has the opportunity to showcase his talents on the biggest stage.

Sark will start Quinn, and Arch will see the field, how much will depend on how the game goes for Quinn. Hopefully we see Quinn's A game and Arch doesn't play much

I would like to see more of an Arch package in the post-season, could be a dangerous change up and gives teams that much more to prep for.

That said, I hope we don't really need it these first two weeks. Perhaps, just a play or two to make teams waste practice time on it.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[Sirhornsalot]

 

[oldhorn2]

Can you copy and paste here or at least post the link? I can't find iit.

SHA....I can't copy and paste from a phone, but DMAC had my back and posted it. I can understand why you couldn't find it. It was cleverly hidden under the post heading.... "Why Texas mudholes Clemson"





Sorry man.... couldn't help myself...

 

[Baron]

Sark needs to get back to calling plays in a "All gas no brakes" style. Put it on Clemson and show no mercy. Hook'em.

 

[DMAC]

"Texas dont embarass me"

Hes been stung twice this year picking Texas vs Georgia but he picked Texas again vs Clemson.

This game wont be close. Texas by 21 as long as the offense can get some rhythm but Clemson defense is terrible so suspect we will light them up.

 

[DMAC]

This guy is in for a rude awakening

 

[82Horn]

Be at the game today

HOOK EM’

 

[Steelhammer]

This isnt the Clemson of old. This game wont be close. Might be our easiest game in a very long time.

Might be wrong but think Dabo will have them fired up. Even if he does Texas defense should turn them over and we win. Maybe a mediocre defense will help Quinn. Clemson probably is most talented team in ACC.

 

[lshorn79]

We need pass protection. With that, I think Quinn should be good.

 

[DMAC]

Might be wrong but think Dabo will have them fired up. Even if he does Texas defense should turn them over and we win. Maybe a mediocre defense will help Quinn. Clemson probably is most talented team in ACC.

Im not impressed with Clemson at all. ACC is as weak as they come. They will have to prove it to me on the field. Maybe they will but I doubt it. They barely beat pitt and SMU. SMU is decent but Clemson stomps no names, eeks out wins over "decent" teams, loses to "good" teams.

They got smacked by Georgia by 34-3 and lost to in state school S. Carolina. They only beat 2-10 FSU by 16.

All the Clemson talk is name recognition and way overblown. I know im being utterly disrespectful to Clemson but honestly I think they are medicore at best. The majority of SEC teams would beat Clemson.

We will roll this team by 3 scores even if we play badly. Simmons and Owens are going to feast on Klubnik. I doubt Clemson scores more than 10 points.

 

[Steelhammer]

Im not impressed with Clemson at all. ACC is as weak as they come. They will have to prove it to me on the field. Maybe they will but I doubt it. They barely beat pitt and SMU. SMU is decent but Clemson stomps no names, eeks out wins over "decent" teams, loses to "good" teams.

They got smacked by Georgia by 34-3 and lost to in state school S. Carolina. They only beat 2-10 FSU by 16.

All the Clemson talk is name recognition and way overblown. I know im being utterly disrespectful to Clemson but honestly I think they are medicore at best. The majority of SEC teams would beat Clemson.

We will roll this team by 3 scores even if we play badly

You realize last 3 games we are only averaging 17

 

[DMAC]

You realize last 3 games we are only averaging 17

I am well aware. Wont matter. Im not scared. You nervous? lol