The eyes of Texas are upon Steve Sarkisian, Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns as the first 12-team College Football Playoff is set to begin. The 5-seed Longhorns will take on Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers on Saturday in the first-round matchup, the game being played in Austin at the home of the higher-seed Texas.

Until this year, Clemson hadn’t made the College Football Playoff since 2020, when they fell to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. Since then, the Tigers have endured three straight seasons with at least three losses, including a four-loss campaign last year and another three this season—despite their return to the playoff.