College Football Playoff

First Round

No. 12 Clemson (10-3) at No. 5 Texas (11-2)

3 p.m. CST Saturday (TNT)

Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas

0 Previous games have been played between Clemson and Texas. Clemson defeated SMU 34-31 in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 7, and the SMU-Texas sequence is the first time in the same season the Tigers have played consecutive opponents for the first time in school history since 1952, when Villanova and Maryland were back-to-back on the schedule.

2 Losses for Texas this season – both inflicted by Georgia. The Longhorns lost to the Bulldogs 30-15 on Oct. 19 and 22-19 in overtime in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 7. Clemson opened its season with a 34-3 loss to Georgia on Sept. 31.

3 Texas players have won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back, including current CB Jahdae Barron, who won the honor for the 2024 season. Texas is now tied with LSU and Oklahoma for the most Thorpe winners with three each.

3 Victories without a loss for Clemson in postseason games played in Texas. The Tigers defeated Boston College 6-3 in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1940, TCU 23-7 in the Bluebonnet Bowl on Dec. 19, 1959, and Notre Dame 30-3 in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29, 2018.

3 Victories when outgained by its opponent and three losses when it outgains its opponent for Texas under coach Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns are 33-3 when they finish with more yards than their opponents during Sarkisian’s tenure. Texas is 3-13 in that time when it has not outgained its opponents. Clemson has averaged gaining 454.9 yards and Texas has averaged gaining 445.4 yards this season.

4 Passing TDs have been scored against Texas in 2024, tied for the fewest in the nation. The Longhorns defense also is allowing a national-low average of 143.1 passing yards per game this season. The Clemson offense is tied for third in the nation with Texas with 34 TD passes this season and has averaged 274.1 passing yards per game.

4 Victories without a loss for Clemson on its opponent’s field this season. The Tigers won ACC games at Florida State, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Pitt in 2024. Clemson is among the eight teams unbeaten in true road games this season – a list that also includes Texas.

5 Texas players have won the Outland Trophy and four have won the Lombardi Award, but only one has won both – current OT Kelvin Banks Jr., who took home both awards for the 2024 season.

6 Fumbles have been forced by Clemson DE T.J. Parker in 2024, tied for the most in the nation entering the bowl season.

7 Victories and 10 losses for Clemson against SEC opponents in bowls, including four CFP national-championship games. Clemson has an overall 59-104-5 record against SEC opponents. During the 2024 regular season, the Tigers lost to Georgia 34-3 on Aug. 31 and South Carolina 17-14 on Nov. 30.

11 Days until the next game for the winner of Saturday’s contest. The Clemson-Texas winner will face No. 4 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 in a CFP quarterfinal game.

12 Bowl victories for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, the most for a coach in ACC history. Swinney has an 12-8 bowl record.

18 Clemson players have rushed for 1,000 yards in a season, including RB Phil Mafah, who recorded the Tigers’ 24th 1,000-yard performance in 2024. Mafah has run for 1,106 yards and eight TDs on 214 carries this season.

22 Years since Texas’ previous game against an ACC opponent. Saturday’s game will be the first for the Longhorns against an ACC foe since they defeated North Carolina 52-21 on Sept. 14, 2002. Texas has a 9-5 record against ACC opponents, including a 2-2 mark in bowls.

24 Consecutive games with a TD pass by Texas QB Quinn Ewers, tied for the longest streak in the nation and the second-longest in school history behind a 29-game streak by Colt McCoy across the 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons.

28 Takeaways for Texas this season, tied for the most in the nation entering the bowl season. The Longhorns have recovered nine of their opponents’ fumbles and intercepted 19 passes. Clemson has the fewest turnovers in the ACC this season with nine – three lost fumbles and six interceptions.

50 Bowl appearances for Clemson. The Tigers will carry a 27-23 bowl record in Saturday’s game.

60 Bowl appearances for Texas when the Longhorns take the field on Saturday. Texas has a 31-26-2 record in bowls after losing its past two outings.

239 Combined rushing and passing yards are needed by QB Cade Klubnik to become the fourth player with 4,000 yards of total offense in a season. Tajh Boyd did that three times, Deshaun Watson twice and Trevor Lawrence once. Klubnik has 3,303 passing yards and 458 rushing yards this season.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.