The Texas Longhorns appear to have shaken off the bitterness of losing in the SEC title game.
The Longhorns lost the conference championship two weeks ago, but their opponent, 12th-seeded Clemson, was on a roll after winning the ACC.
The fifth-seeded Longhorns won 38-24 and advanced to the first round of the College Football Playoff.
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Quinn Ewers of the Texas Longhorns makes his first appearance during a first-round playoff game against the Clemson Tigers at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Throw during the quarter. (Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
The Tigers were the first to score a touchdown, but the Longhorns were outscored 31-3 going into the fourth quarter. But Clemson wasn't quiet.
The Tigers scored 14 unanswered points in the span, as the defense held Texas to a fourth point and held Clemson to two points from its 36. Suddenly, Texas was up by seven points with 11 minutes, 43 seconds left.
But just as Clemson was getting back into the game, Jadon Blue ran for a 77-yard touchdown, putting Texas back within two touchdowns.
Clemson attacked the field trying to keep up the fightback, but the Tigers were forced into a fourth-and-1.
The Tigers got the ball back again with 1:43 remaining, but were unable to keep the drive alive and the Longhorns ran out the clock.
Texas Longhorns defensive back Jaday Barron, 7, celebrates playing in the first round of the CFP against the Clemson Tigers at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Austin, Texas. ). (David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Quinn Ewers completed 17-of-24 through the air for 202 passing yards. Blue and Quintrevion Wisner combined for 256 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries.
Clemson's Cade Klubnik threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, completing 26 of 43 passes. TJ Moore led all players with nine catches, 116 yards and one touchdown.
The Longhorns will now face Arizona State, who won the Big 12 and earned a first-round bye, in the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day.
The home team is 3-0 in the first three games of the new 12-team format. Each winning team covered the spread.
Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner, 26, plays during the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Dec. 21 in Austin, Texas. He celebrated scoring his second touchdown of the game in the second quarter against the Clemson Tigers. , 2024. (Sarah Diggins/American Statesman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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The final first-round game between Tennessee and Ohio State in Columbus will kick off Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.
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