Texas vs. Clemson score, live updates: College Football Playoff first round

After the College Football Playoff began on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame handling No. 10 Indiana, Saturday gives us an entire day of action with three games wrapping up the first round of the 12-team format.

Penn State took care of business in Happy Valley to start the day, using two early pick-sixes to pull away with a 38-10 win against an overmatched SMU. Let’s hope the later games have a bit more suspense.

Follow all the action below.

Time: 8 p.m. ET | TV: ABC/ESPN | Line: Ohio State -7.5 | Total: 46.5

Ohio State enters the playoff on a mission while coming off a painful loss to hated rival Michigan. Can coach Ryan Day get his team back on track? As the over/under indicates, this will not likely be the offensive shootout that many would have predicted before the season began. These two teams have offenses that can hit for a big play at any moment, but both teams have relied on excellent defenses.

Live71 updates

Sat, December 21, 2024 at 4:13 PM PST

Clemson stuffed on 4th and goal!

The Tigers get stopped on two straight runs at the 1.

Massive stop for Texas, which takes over with 7:24 to play.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 4:10 PM PST

Clemson threatening again

Cade Klubnik is throwing it all over the yard and he’s led the Tigers inside the 5-yard line, but Clemson just burned a timeout before facing a 3rd and goal.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 4:04 PM PST

Texas RBs ruling

Longhorns RBs today:

Jaydon Blue: 12 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs

Quintrevion Wisner: 12 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:59 PM PST

Touchdown Texas!

Jaydon Blue unleashes a 77-yard TD run!

Instant answer for the Longhorns, who are right back to a 2-TD lead.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:53 PM PST

Touchdown Clemson!

Cade Klubnik finds T.J. Moore in the end zone on a 4th and 6 pass. The clutch play makes it a one-score game. We’ve got a ballgame here in Austin early in the 4th!

Texas 31, Clemson 24
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:44 PM PST

Texas turnover on downs

A Longhorns drive makes it into Clemson territory by Quinn Ewers throws incomplete on 4th and 2.

Clemson takes over with a chance to cut further into the lead.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:35 PM PST

Touchdown Clemson!

That happened fast. Two big pass plays and the Tigers are in the end zone.

Cade Klubnik fired it to Jarvis Green for a 25-yard score, and Clemson has life!

Texas 31, Clemson 17
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:26 PM PST

Clemson punts again

Cade Klubnik took an ugly sack, fumbling it away before his teammate eventually recovered, and that pretty much killed another drive for the Tigers.

Texas gets it back.

Only so many more chances for Clemson to try to get back into this game.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:17 PM PST

Texas adds a FG

Bert Auburn hits from 22 yards to extend the Longhorns’ lead.

Texas got near the goal line after a PI call, but unable to get into the end zone.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:12 PM PST

Arch Manning appearance!

Manning had already entered the game earlier for a handoff, but this time he drops back to pass and ends up scrambling for a first down on a 3rd-and-1 play.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:10 PM PST

2nd half begins

Texas receives the 2nd-half kickoff and will try to extend its lead here.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM PST

Halftime stats

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Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:44 PM PST

Halftime: Texas 28, Clemson 10

The Texas offense is putting on a clinic so far. Can Clemson do anything to stop it in the second half or are we looking at a third straight playoff blowout?
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:41 PM PST

Touchdown Texas!

Quinn Ewers fires it to Gunnar Helm for a 19-yard TD toss. Big answer for the Longhorns following the turnover. And they extend their lead right before halftime.

Texas 28, Clemson 10
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:35 PM PST

Clemson kicks FG

Nolan Hauser knocks it in from 32 yards and Clemson cuts into the lead a bit.

Texas 21, Clemson 10 | 1:33 in 2nd
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:26 PM PST

Clemson interception!

Quinn Ewers’ pass is picked off by Clemson’s R.J. Mickens after the ball bounced off a receiver’s hands.

The ball was actually returned to the end zone, but the touchdown was called back on an illegal blindside block.

Either way, a huge play for Clemson, which takes over at its own 46.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:21 PM PST

Clemson offense stuck in neutral

Ever since its opening-drive TD, Clemson’s offense hasn’t been able to do much.

Here’s how its drives have ended since then:
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:16 PM PST

Texas turns over on downs

Clemson gets a defensive stop it desperately needed, stuffing Jaydon Blue on a 4th down run at the 18-yard line.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:14 PM PST

Texas interception!

Cade Klubnik’s pass is deflected into the air and Texas’ Collin Simmons comes down with it.

The momentum is VERY much with the burnt orange right now.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:12 PM PST

Texas dominating on the ground

Texas already has 122 net rushing yards, averaging 7.7 yards per rush.

Longhorns have 3 rushing TDs on 3 offensive drives so far.