No. 5 Texas is dominating No. 12 Clemson in their first-round College Football Playoff matchup, commanding a 28-10 lead into halftime.
The Longhorns’ offense has been relentless, piling up nearly 300 total yards and averaging eight yards per play. They scored touchdowns on four of their six first-half possessions, repeatedly exposing a Clemson defense that looked overmatched and out of sync. Missed tackles and poor run fits—a season-long issue under coordinator Wes Goodwin—were glaring once again.
Clemson’s only touchdown came on its opening drive, but the Tigers couldn’t sustain momentum. Even when they managed a big play, it backfired. R.J. Mickens picked off Quinn Ewers and returned it for a touchdown in the second quarter, but a blindside block by Tre Williams nullified the score. Clemson settled for a field goal instead, squandering a chance to close the gap.
Texas closed the half with another touchdown after a dropped interception by Avieon Terrell, capitalizing on Clemson’s missed opportunities and mistakes. The Tigers need a significant turnaround to avoid a short playoff stay.
This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Halftime Report: Clemson struggles, falling out of striking distance against Texas
