College Football Playoff: Tennessee heads to The Shoe

College Football Playoff: Tennessee heads to The Shoe

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. Later, in Austin, Texas had its way with Clemson in a 38-24 game that was not as close as the final score would indicate. Let’s hope the nightcap between Ohio State and Tennessee has 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.

Live79 updates

  • Texas’ dominant win over Clemson confirms what first 2 CFP games showed: Trench play is king in the expanded playoff

    AUSTIN, TX - DECEMBER 21: Texas Longhorns linebacker Barryn Sorrell (88) celebrates a sack during the CFP First Round game between Texas Longhorns and Clemson Tigers on December 21, 2024, at Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (David Buono/Getty Images)

  • Updated CFP bracket

    Here’s where we stand with three playoff games in the books:

    Updated CFP bracket.

    Updated CFP bracket.

  • Next up: Tennessee at Ohio State

    For the CFP nightcap we head to Columbus, where Tennessee fans are making their presence known:

  • Texas wins, advances in CFP!

    The Longhorns earn a spot in the quarterfinals, where they’ll face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.

  • Clemson stops Texas on 4th down

    Arch Manning fumbles the snap and fails to convert what would have been the game-clinching first down for the Longhorns. One last gasp for the Tigers here.

  • Texas milking the clock

    Texas is methodically moving the chains and keeping the clock moving.

    We’re at the 2-minute timeout and the Longhorns still have the ball. This one is all but over.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Texas RBs ruling

    Longhorns RBs today:

    Jaydon Blue: 12 carries, 146 yards, 2 TDs

    Quintrevion Wisner: 12 carries, 110 yards, 2 TDs

  • Touchdown Texas!

    Jaydon Blue unleashes a 77-yard TD run!

    Instant answer for the Longhorns, who are right back to a 2-TD lead.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 2nd half begins

    Texas receives the 2nd-half kickoff and will try to extend its lead here.

  • Halftime stats

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  • 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?

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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:

    • Punt

    • Punt

    • Interception

    • Punt

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Touchdown Texas!

    It’s Quintrevion Wisner into the end zone again, this one from 16 yards out. The O-line opened up a gaping hole for him to run through.

    Longhorns are cooking so far, and running the ball at will.

    Texas 21, Clemson 7

  • Touchdown Texas!

    This time the Longhorns move quickly as Jaydon Blue busts a 38-yard TD run down the sideline.

    That was a 5-play, 65-yard drive on ALL RUNS.

    Just like that the Longhorns lead 14-7.

  • Clemson punts on 4th and 1

    The Tigers opted to kick it away on 4th and about a foot from their own 34-yard line.

    Playing it safe early in this one.

  • Touchdown Texas!

    Longhorns match the Tigers with a long TD drive of their own.

    Quintrevion Wisner finishes it with a 3-yard run.

    It’s all tied up 7-7.

  • Touchdown Clemson!

    Cade Klubnik finds Antonio Williams on a 22-yard catch and run for the score on 3rd down.

    What a start for the underdog Tigers here!

    Clemson 7, Texas 0

  • Nice start for Clemson

    Cade Klubnik and the Tigers have a nice drive going to start this game.

    It’s first down at the Texas 25 as Clemson burns its first timeout.

  • And we’re off!

    Texas kicks off to start things off in Austin. Clemson will begin with the ball.

  • Texas advances to CFP quarterfinals

  • Alright, alright, alright

  • CFP bracket

    Here’s where the bracket stands after the first two playoff games:

  • Texas WR Isaiah Bond won’t play

    The Longhorns will be without one of its top receiving weapons today.

  • Texas-Clemson on tap

    Game 2 of the Saturday playoff tripleheader is just minutes away in Austin.

    The winner of No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson will face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.

  • As college football evolves and parity spreads, Dabo Swinney still prefers ‘old way’

    CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 07: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney and Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) share a moment after the victory during the ACC championship football game between the SMU Mustangs and the Clemson Tigers on December 7, 2024 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (John Byrum/Getty Images)

  • Final: PSU 38, SMU 10

  • SMU waves the white flag

    The Mustangs have punted it back to the home team with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game.

  • Time running out for SMU

    PSU was smarter with its next possession, running the ball and milking the clock a bit before giving it back to SMU on a punt.

    There’s 2:46 left now.

  • Touchdown SMU!

    The Mustangs are finally in the end zone after a 28-yard TD throw from Kevin Jennings to Roderick Daniels Jr.

    There’s 7:30 left in this one.

    PSU 38, SMU 10

  • Interception SMU!

    Welp. Instead of running the ball, PSU opts for a Ethan Grunkemeyer pass and it’s tipped into the hands of SMU’s Brandon Crossley.

    The Ponies will have the ball at the PSU 40-yard line.

  • The Nittany Lions have the ball back and will presumably bleed as much time off the clock as possible with this drive. Backup QB Ethan Grunkemeyer is in the game for Drew Allar

    There’s 10 minutes left in the game.

  • Touchdown Penn State

    This thing is all but over now. The Nittany Lions moved the ball with ease as Kaytron Allen capped off a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a short TD run.

    PSU 38, SMU 3

  • End of 3Q: PSU 31, SMU 3

    The Ponies are going to need a miracle now.

  • Penn State moving the ball

    The Nittany Lions are over midfield and nearing the red zone now as the third quarter winds down.

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