Clemson vs Texas in College Football Playoff: Bracket predictions for first-round game

Clemson football will face Texas in the first round of the CFP.

The No. 12 seed Tigers (10-3) will travel to Austin, Texas, to face the No. 5 seed Longhorns (11-2) on Dec. 21 (4 p.m. ET, TNT) at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium. The winner will face No. 4 Arizona State, which won the Big 12 championship, in the next round.

This will be the first matchup between these two programs. Texas made the CFP last year but lost in the first round to Washington. Clemson made the CFP for the first time since 2020 after winning the ACC Championship Game.

Here is our early prediction for the College Football Playoff first-round game:

Clemson vs. Texas predictions

Texas has been one of the best teams in the country despite losing in the SEC championship. Its only two losses are to Georgia, who also beat Clemson in Week 1. Backed by over 100,000 fans, the Longhorns will beat Clemson and advance to the second round of the CFP. Clemson is 0-2 against SEC teams this season too.

When does Clemson play Texas in CFP?

Clemson will face Texas on Dec. 21 (4 p.m. ET, TNT) at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Clemson vs. Texas odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM:

• Spread: Clemson (+10.5)
• Over/under: 52.5
• Moneyline: Clemson (+310), Texas (-400)

CFP schedule

First round (campus site games)

Friday, Dec. 20, 2024:

No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame (8 p.m. ET, ABC)

Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024: 

No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State (noon ET, TNT)

No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas (4 p.m. ET, TNT)

No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State (8 p.m. ET, ABC)

Quarterfinals

• Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024: Fiesta Bowl (State Farm Stadium — Glendale, Arizona)
• Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025: Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta), Rose Bowl Game (Rose Bowl — Pasadena, California) and Allstate Sugar Bowl (Caesars Superdome — New Orleans)

Semifinals

• Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025: Capital One Orange Bowl (Hard Rock Stadium — Miami)
• Friday, Jan. 10, 2025: Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (AT&T Stadium — Arlington, Texas)

National championship

Monday, Jan. 20, 2025: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Clemson vs. Texas history

This is the first meeting between these two programs.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00