Texas Longhorns players, fans feeling the energy ahead of CFP showdown

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: UT fans excited for playoff game

The Texas Longhorns may have lost their SEC Championship, but their season is far from over. Fans are looking forward to the Longhorns' first-round College Football Playoff game against Clemson.

AUSTIN - The Texas Longhorns will host the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday.

The Texas Longhorns had a historic football season in 2024. The stadium also turned 100 years old in November, and the Horns will host the Tigers there in the first-ever College Football Playoff game on its field.

The Tigers will make their first trip to the state capital in their program's history.

Texas has only lost one game at home this season, Clemson has not lost on the road this year.

While the Horns will have the familiarity of playing at DKR, they will have to deal with the unfamiliar feeling of a loss ending their season.

Number three-ranked Texas has an 11-point favorite over number 16 Clemson. The game is set for 3 pm on Saturday.

Longhorns Feeling The Energy

The team returned to the practice field on Monday after some relatively light work last week.

Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said he wanted to give his team a physical and mental break to help heal injuries and recharge their battery.

After the break, Sark said the team brought the energy on Monday.

"We were kind of giddy! Like, you could feel like man, we're in the playoffs," he said. "I think their energy level is really high, which is a positive."

The highest attendance on record at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium is more than 105,000 people, which was set this season during the game against Georgia. The previous record was set in 2022, when the Horns hosted Alabama.

Kelvin Banks, Quinn Ewers, Isaiah Bond Injury Status

Kelvin Banks Jr.

Offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. returned to practice after sitting out of the SEC Championship game with an ankle injury.

The Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award-winning lineman says he's improving.

"My ankle is feeling a whole lot better. I've been attacking my rehab process, so I'm confident in where I am in my process," said Banks. "I feel confident in that I'll be able to play Saturday."

Quinn Ewers

Quarterback Quinn Ewers has also been dealing with ankle injuries.

Ewers was out of his ankle brace on Monday.

Isaiah Bond

Wide receiver Isaiah Bond was not on the field for the portion of practice that was open to the media.

Bond is continuing to rehab the ankle injury he suffered in the SEC title game.

Longhorns named to All-American Team

Two Longhorn standouts were named to the Associated Press' All-American team.

Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Jahdae Barron from Connally High School was named to the first team squad.

Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks also made the first team.

What Fans Are Saying

"I'm an Austinite," said Longhorn Fan Teresa Castillo. "I was born and raised here, and my father's a former all-American UT football player, and so we've bled orange our entire life, and so there's a lot of excitement for this game."

"Clemson is definitely a good school, but I think we face some, like, bigger opponents," said UT Student Marvin Luo. "It'll be definitely big, but I don't think I'll be the biggest."

"I'll be at the game, actually, so excited; looking forward to that," said UT Student Jason Kim.