The No. 3 ranked Texas Longhorns are set to face off against the No. 16 ranked Clemson Tigers in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff. This exciting matchup will take place on Saturday, December 21, at 3 p.m. CT at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, with the game being broadcast on TNT/Max. The commentary team will consist of play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch, analyst Dusty Dvoracek, and reporter Taylor McGregor.
This will be Texas’s second consecutive appearance in the College Football Playoff, having previously reached the semifinals last year where they competed against the No. 2 Washington Huskies at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Longhorns have maintained a solid performance, achieving 11 straight top-10 rankings in the College Football Playoff since October 31, 2023. As of November 5, Texas debuted at No. 5 in the first CFP rankings, achieving their highest-ever position for this stage of the process. Consistently performing well, Texas has been included in the top-25 rankings for the last 15 updates and has a total of 27 appearances in the rankings, with their peak being No. 2.
The game on December 21 will mark the inaugural meeting between Texas and Clemson. The victorious team will advance to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinals, where they will face the Big 12 Champion, No. 4 seeded Arizona State, at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on January 1, 2025, at noon CT in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. This match will be available to watch on ABC/ESPN.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian has had a noteworthy coaching career, leading his teams to eight postseason appearances over his 11 seasons. His successful track record includes tenure at Washington and USC, showcasing his ability to develop competitive programs.
For those interested in tickets, season ticket holders for Texas Football can request their regular season seat and parking locations for the upcoming playoff game by logging into their accounts by the deadline of December 9 at 4 p.m. Central. Fans looking to purchase tickets should check SeatGeek, the official ticket marketplace for Texas Athletics. Additionally, donors to the Longhorn Foundation at the Tradition level or higher can also request tickets for any potential postseason games, with relevant deadlines for each stage also approaching.
This matchup promises to be a thrilling contest, showcasing two elite programs in college football, bringing fans a new rivalry to follow. As both teams prepare, the excitement builds around the playoff possibilities for Texas, potentially leading them closer to a championship pursuit.