The largest hole in Clemson’s highway journey to Texas is not the groups’ Faculty Soccer Playoff seedings.
With Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik surging and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers struggling, the Tigers have a transparent benefit on the sport’s most essential place.
Clemson’s junior quarterback has arguably performed his finest soccer through the workforce’s final 4 video games. Since Nov. 16, Klubnik is 87-of-134 (64.9 p.c) for 1,028 yards (7.7 yards per try), 12 complete touchdowns and one interception.
Per Pro Football Focus data, Klubnik is first amongst CFP quarterbacks this season with 24 “big-time throws,” which the location defines as “a cross with wonderful ball location and timing, typically thrown down the sphere and/or right into a tighter window.”
He additionally has probably the most landing passes (33) and is tied with three different quarterbacks for the third-fewest interceptions (5). Klubnik has been significantly efficient on deep passes, rating first amongst playoff quarterbacks with 15 touchdowns on throws 20 or extra yards downfield.
Ewers hasn’t been practically as efficient, resulting in elevated requires head coach Steve Sarkisian to bench him for heralded backup five-star 2023 high-school recruit Arch Manning.
Per PFF information, he is considered one of two CFP quarterbacks with a minimum of 275 cross makes an attempt with extra turnover-worthy performs (17) than big-time throws (14), joined by Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen. Solely Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been sacked extra typically than Ewers.
Clemson has a transparent quarterback benefit, however Texas’ protection may shrink the hole. The Longhorns are tied for ninth in FBS in sacks (38), and their capacity to stress Klubnik may neutralize his strengths.
According to PFF, Klubnik has carried out most of his injury when stored clear, throwing for 29 touchdowns and three interceptions in these conditions. Nevertheless, Klubnik has been pressured on the third-highest stress charge (30.4 p.c) amongst CFP quarterbacks with a minimum of 300 dropbacks. When underneath duress, Klubnik is 51-of-114 (44.7 p.c) for 790 yards, 4 touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Longhorns primarily play zone protection in protection, which CBS Sports notes advantages Klubnik.
The Clemson quarterback “has thrown 21 touchdowns passes towards zone protection this season, probably the most within the FBS,” Ryan McGrady wrote.
Making use of stress could possibly be Texas’ finest means of stopping Klubnik from dissecting its zone appears to be like.
In the meantime, Ewers wants a sizzling begin in Saturday’s first-round playoff recreation (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, TNT/Max) to maintain the house followers from chanting for Manning to take his place.
Ewers had three first-half turnovers in Texas’ two losses to Georgia and may be unable to outlive a sloppy begin towards Clemson, which pressured a fumble and interception within the first quarter of its 34-31 win over SMU within the ACC Championship Sport.
Manning has appeared in eight video games this season, together with two begins, and is 61-of-90 (67.8 p.c) for 939 yards, 9 touchdowns and two interceptions. If Ewers stays careless with the soccer, Sarkisian may be pressured to insert Manning.
The place the Longhorns have a brewing quarterback controversy, the Tigers have stability. It is one of many few benefits 12-seed Clemson has over 5-seed Texas, nevertheless it’s important.
