Longhorns Set 'New Standard' With Home Playoff Game

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The No. 5 Texas Longhorns (11-2, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) will get an opportunity to be one of the first teams to host a College Football Playoff game on their campus when they play the No. 12 Clemson Tigers (10-3, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) during the inaugural 12-team playoff on Dec. 21 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

The field expanded from four to 12 teams this season, allowing more competition and participation from all the Power Five conferences. As the second-place team in the SEC, Texas earned the highest seed of any nonconference champion and will serve as the host of a first-round game. Others will be played at Penn State, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

"To me, this is one of the bonuses of playing in the first round: having a home game," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said as he met with the media shortly after the playoff field was announced on Dec. 8. "We get another opportunity at DKR. School's just going to be wrapping up. Looking forward to a great environment. ...That's the beauty of this new format. You get another home game."

Longhorns at Home

Since Sarkisian took over the program, Texas has an impressive 21-5 record at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Even in an abysmal 5-7 debut season for the coach in Austin, the Longhorns posted a 4-1 mark on their home field. Since then, only Alabama, TCU and Georgia have been able to leave Austin with victories. All three squads were top-5 teams at the time.

"I'm really pumped for our fans and Longhorn nation that they get to experience this and that we get to have one more opportunity here at DKR with this team," Sarkisian added during a Dec. 16 press conference. "We're going to need all their support."

Adjusted Timing

This year, the playoff starts almost two weeks earlier than in years past, although it is still a much longer break than the teams would have during the regular season. Still, it does not give these teams much time to recover from key injuries, and Texas is one particular team that could use the recovery time after playing a fellow playoff team just about two weeks ago.

Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. missed that game with an injury, and star wide receiver Isaiah Bond left after hurting his ankle. Yet, Texas is excited to get the ball rolling and compete for a national championship

"Playing in a playoff game in mid-December is just very different," Sarkisian explained. "... When you have a really successful season, historically you get this really long layoff until your bowl game right around New Year's and whatnot. For it to come two weeks after the SEC Championship game is pretty exciting."

Texas' Playoff Path

Texas can secure a trip to Atlanta to play fourth-seeded Big 12 champion Arizona State (11-2, 7-2 Big 12 Conference) in the Peach Bowl with a win. The Longhorns are the only team returning to the playoff from last season's four-team field.

"I think that's a testament to our culture and the things we do in the offseason and our coaching," tight end Gunnar Helm told the media. "We've set a new standard. We're glad to hold ourselves to that standard."

On paper, the Longhorns seem to have the most favorable path to the national semifinals, which would be played in AT&T Stadium at the Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025.

However, both Clemson and Arizona State present challenging offenses to defend, specifically when it comes to the running game. Clemson not only has running back Phil Mafah with 2,878 yards and 28 touchdowns in his career but also dual-threat Austin native Cade Klubnik at quarterback. Meanwhile, Arizona State features Cam Skattebo, the only player in the FBS with 1,000 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards this season.

Making it through two games unscathed would potentially set up a Cotton Bowl matchup against No. 1 Oregon for a spot in the national championship.

"We know exactly where we are," Helm added. "We know exactly what we want to do as a football team, and I think that's why we're excited to get back on the field..."