Clemson will play Texas in CFP first round. Predictions, bracket update

Clemson football is seeded No. 12 in the CFP and will face Texas in the first round.

The 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, who won the Big 12 championship.

Clemson made the CFP after beating SMU (11-2) 34-31 in the ACC championship on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Freshman kicker Nolan Hauser made an ACC championship game record 56-yard field goal to send Clemson to the CFP for the seventh time in program history.

Who will Clemson play in CFP?

Clemson, who was ranked 16th in the CFP, will face Texas, who was ranked third, on the road in Austin, Texas, at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

When does Clemson play Texas in CFP?

Clemson will face Texas on Dec. 21 (4 p.m. ET, TNT).

MORE: How Clemson football's ACC championship win vs SMU reinforced Dabo Swinney's roster philosophy

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.

Clemson vs. Texas odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM:

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

CFP bracket update

BYES: No. 1 seed Oregon, No. 2 seed Georgia, No. 3 seed Boise State, No. 4 seed Arizona State

No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee. The winner faces Oregon.

No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson. The winner faces Arizona State.

No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 Indiana. The winner faces Boise State.

No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 SMU. The winner faces Georgia.

CFP schedule

First round (campus site games)

• Friday, Dec. 20, 2024: One game
• Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024: Three games

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)

What bowl games are in CFP?

The Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl and Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic are the six bowl games featured in the CFP.

Clemson vs. Texas history

This will be the first meeting between these two programs.