The third berth to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals was secured Saturday in Austin, Texas.

And it belongs to No. 5 Texas.

The Longhorns (12-2) defended their home turf on Saturday, as they beat No. 12 Clemson (10-4) inside DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday 38-24 — the first on-campus postseason game for either the Longhorns or Tigers.

Watch Texas vs. Clemson live with Sling TV

With its first-round win, Texas advances to the CFP quarterfinals against No. 4 Arizona State. The Longhorns and Sun Devils will meet up at the Peach Bowl on New Year’s Day at 1 p.m. ET in Atlanta.

Steve Sarkisian’s team dominated within the trenches for the majority of the afternoon against Dabo Swinney’s Tigers team. Texas finished with 292 rushing yards on the day, with Jaydon Blue being responsible for 146 of those.

The Longhorns’ running game was on full display in the first half, as it was responsible for three of their four first-half touchdowns. Texas’ 28-10 halftime lead was the most points that Clemson’s defense had given up in the first half this season.

Clemson showed valiant fight in the second half, coming as close as seven points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough. The Tigers’ second-half effort was shut down on the two occasions: The first came on a 77-yard touchdown run down the left sideline by Blue. The other was a goal-line stand by Texas’ defense late in the frame after Cade Klubnik and the Tigers drove down the field following Blue’s score.

Quinn Ewers, who entered the game dealing with a high-ankle sprain, had a rather clean day against Clemson’s defense. The Longhorns quarterback finished 17 of 24 passing for 202 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

With that, here’s a look back at the score, updates and highlights from Saturday’s CFP first-round game between Texas and Clemson:

Texas vs Clemson score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

Texas vs Clemson CFP updates

(This section was updated with new information)

Final score: Texas 38, Clemson 24

Texas beats Clemson, advances to CFP quarterfinals

Texas is onto the CFP quarterfinals and the Peach Bowl vs. No. 4 Arizona State, as the Longhorns take down No. 12 Clemson 38-24. The Longhorns’ 28-10 halftime lead was too much for Clemson to overcome, despite a valiant second-half effort.

Texas leads Clemson 38-24 at two minute timeout

The Longhorns are two minutes away from securing their spot in the CFP quarterfinals against Arizona State, as they lead Clemson 38-24 at the two minute timeout. Texas faces a second-and-5 at the Clemson 44-yard line coming out of the timeout.

Texas forces turnover on downs

As Clemson was knocking on the door, Texas’ defense comes up with a huge goal-line stand: Bill Norton and Barryn Sorrell stuff Keith Adams Jr. for no gain to force a turnover on downs.

Clemson moving on offense, takes timeout

Clemson refuses to back down, as Cade Klubnik scrambles up the middle for a 4-yard gain to create a third-and-1 on the Longhorns’ 1-yard line. Dabo Swinney burns his first timeout of the half to go over what Clemson wants to do.

Jaydon Blue scores 77-yard touchdown for Texas

Just like that, Texas steals back the momentum from Clemson.

Jaydon Blue explodes down the left side of the field for a 77-yard rushing score. Blue’s score, his second of the game, puts Texas back up 38-24 with 10:48 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Texas has now run for 265 yards on the afternoon, compared to Clemson’s 73.

Cade Klubnik TD pass brings Clemson closer

Facing a fourth-and-6 at Texas’ 7-yard line, Cade Klubnik sees T.J. Moore wide open in the middle for the touchdown. Real nice pass thrown by Klubnik, who has three touchdown passes on the afternoon.

Just like that, Clemson is back in this one, as Texas now leads 31-24 with 11:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Clemson moving on offense

The Tigers have some life late in the game, as Dabo Swinney’s squad starts the fourth quarter with a second-and-10 at Texas’ 22 yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Antonio Williams reels in an impressive catch right from Cade Klubnik for a first down.

Third quarter: Texas 31, Clemson 17

Clemson forces turnover on downs

After a 3-yard gain up the middle from Jaydon Blue, Texas opts to go for its on fourth-and-2 in hopes of continuing chewing down the clock. The call comes to backfire for the Longhorns as Quinn Ewers can’t connect with Matthew Golden.

It’s a much-needed stop for Clemson, who takes over at its 36-yard line.

Cade Klubnik throws touchdown pass to Jarvis Green

The light is still on at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, as Cade Klubnik throws a much needed 25-yard touchdown to Jarvis Green to cut the deficit to 31-17.

It is the first career touchdown catch for Green, and Klubnik’s second touchdown pass of the afternoon. Texas’ defense had only given up four passing touchdowns heading into Saturday’s game.

Texas punts

Back-to-back incomplete passes from Quinn Ewers results in the first three-and-out for Texas on offense. The Longhorns will have to wait for another drive to put this one out of reach.

Texas extends lead with field goal

It’s continuing to get further out of reach for Clemson, as Texas now leads by three touchdowns in the third quarter. Longhorns extend their lead to 31-10 with a 22-yard field goal from Bert Auburn.

Texas was unable to take advantage of its red zone possession after a defensive pass interference penalty was called on Clemson’s Avieon Terrell, but it’ll take the points.

First half: Texas 28, Clemson 10

Texas leads Clemson 28-10 at halftime

It was all Texas in the first half of Saturday’s CFP first-round game vs. Clemson, as the Longhorns take a 28-10 lead into the locker rooms at halftime. Longhorns out-gained the Tigers 289 to 182 on offense in the first 30 minutes, with 148 of those yards coming on the ground.

Texas gets the ball to start the second half.

Texas scores touchdown to extend lead before halftime

Texas grabs momentum back, as Quinn Ewers fires a perfectly placed, wide open pass to the back of the end zone to Texas tight end Gunnar Helm. It is the 26th touchdown pass of the season for Ewers, who is now 11 of 14 passing for 141 yards with a touchdown and an interception on the day.

Longhorns build their lead to 28-10 over Clemson with 28 seconds remaining in the half.

x.com

Clemson kicks field goal to shorten Texas lead

Clemson sends the field goal unit out after Cade Klubnik’s pass on third-and-5 to Bryant Wesco Jr. is short. The 32-yard field goal from Nolan Hauser is good, bringing Clemson’s deficit to 21-10 with 1:33 remaining in the first half.

R.J. Mickens comes up with interception for Clemson

As their offensive continues to struggle, the Tigers get a much needed spark from their defense.

R.J. Mickens intercepts Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers at the Longhorns’ 45-yard line on second-and-16 and takes it to the house for a score. But Mickens’ score is negated due to a blindside block penalty from Tigers defensive lineman Tre Williams.

Clemson has the ball with two minutes remaining in the first half at its 46-yard line.

Cade Klubnik intercepted on tipped pass

Clemson’s first-half offensive struggles continue, as Cade Klubnik is picked off deep on the Tigers’ side of the field. Klubnik’s pass, which was intended for Antonio Williams, was tipped in the air by Barryn Sorrell and caught by Colin Simmons. Texas takes over at Clemson’s 26-yard line.

Texas extends lead with rushing touchdown

If it’s not broken, why fix it? That seems to be the philosophy for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns, as Texas scores its third rushing touchdown of the first half. The latest comes on a 16-yard run up the right side from Quintrevion Wisner, his second touchdown of the game.

Texas has 122 rushing yards in the first half on 19 carries, compared to Clemson’s 45 rushing yards on nine carries. Complete dominance from the Longhorns’ offensive line thus far.

Quinn Ewers finds Matthew Golden for big catch

Matthew Golden continues to come up with big plays down the field for Texas. The latest is a 43-yard reception down the middle of the field on a lob pass from Quinn Ewers as pressure came from Clemson’s defensive line. Ewers is 7 for 7 for 100 yards to start the day.

Adam Randall with a big play for Clemson

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley takes a play out of Texas’ playbook on first-and-10 to start and it works to pay off, as Adam Randall breaks off for 41-yard run up the middle. Two plays later Clemson burns its second timeout of the half after Cade Klubnik is sacked for a 10-yard loss. Third-and-16 coming up for Clemson at the Texas 46-yard line.

Jaydon Blue extends Texas lead with explosive run

Texas continues to lean on its offensive line and rushing attack, as running back Jaydon Blue gets a huge lane and runs it to the house for a 38-yard score. Ten of the last 11 play calls from Steve Sarkisian have been rushes. Longhorns up 14-7 with 12:49 remaining in the first half.

Clemson punts ball

Dabo Swinney opts to punt the ball on fourth-and-1. Clemson is unable to flip the field on the punt, as Aidan Swanson’s punt only makes it to Texas’ 35-yard line.

First quarter: Clemson 7, Texas 7

Clemson faces big call on fourth down to start second quarter

At the end of the first quarter, it’s all knotted up at 7-7 between Clemson and Texas. The Tigers face a big call to start the second half: go for it on fourth-and-1 at their 34-yard line or punt it? Texas’ Anthony Hill Jr. pushed Clemson’s Phil Mafah out of bounds a yard short of picking up the first down on a screen pass from Cade Klubnik.

Texas scores touchdown

After picking up the first down on fourth-and-1 at the Clemson 4-yard line, Texas ties the game at 7-7 with a 3-yard carry up the middle from running back Quintrevion Wisner. Good start for the Longhorns’ run game, which has struggled in the last few weeks.

Wisner had four carries for 32 rushing yards on Texas’ opening drive, including a 22-yard run up the right sideline.

Cade Klubnik throws opening drive TD for Clemson

Cade Klubnik finds Antonio Williams on the dump pass across the middle of the field for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Great poise and confidence by Klubnik on the Tigers’ opening drive, which took almost seven minutes off the game clock on 12 plays.

With the extra point good from Nolan Hauser, Clemson takes the early 7-0 lead over Texas in the first quarter of Saturday’s CFP first-round game.

Clemson driving on offense

The Tigers have come out strong on offense, as Cade Klubnik scrambles to the left side to pick the first down to move into Texas’ side of the field. Klubnik has started 3 of 4 passing for 23 yards.

Pregame

Texas wins coins toss vs Clemson in CFP

The Longhorns have won the toss and deferred the kickoff to the second half. It will be Clemson and Cade Klubnik up first on offense in the third first-round game of the CFP.

Dabo Swinney meets Matthew McConaughey

Ask and you shall receive. Dabo Swinney meets noted Texas alum Matthew McConaughey around the 30-yard line.

Shortly after learning the Tigers would travel to Texas for their first-round matchup, Swinney said, ‘I’m gonna meet Matthew McConaughey!’ in his news conference. McConaughey, of course, is the Longhorns’ ‘Minister of Culture’ and a signature presence at Texas games.

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik warming up ahead of homecoming

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has taken the field at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium for warmups. Saturday’s CFP first round game vs. Texas is a homecoming of sorts for Klubnik, who is from Austin, Texas and attended Westlake High School.

Isaiah Bond in street clothes ahead of CFP game vs Clemson

According to the Austin American-Statesman’s David Eckert, Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond is on the sidelines in street clothes during warmups. Bond is currently dealing with a high-ankle sprain.

Bevo back on sidelines for Texas 

After not being able to travel to Atlanta for the SEC championship game, Texas’ mascot Bevo is back on the sidelines for Saturday’s CFP first-round game vs. Clemson as he enters the stadium.

Will Texas’ Isaiah Bond play today vs. Clemson?

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on “College GameDay” earlier Saturday that Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond is “unlikely to play” vs. Clemson in the first-round of the CFP. Bond, who is a projected first-round NFL draft pick, is dealing with a high ankle sprain and “may try to warm up” on Saturday, per Thamel. 

Texas football history in College Football Playoff 

Saturday’s CFP first-round game vs. Clemson is just the second College Football Playoff game for Texas in program history. The Longhorns first appeared in the CFP last year, when they lost to eventual national runner-up Washington 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl. 

Dabo Swinney record in CFP

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney enters Saturday’s CFP first-round game vs. Texas on the cusp of etching his name into the CFP record books. At 6-4 overall in the CFP, which includes two CFP national championship titles, Swinney is one win away from joining former Alabama coach Nick Saban as the lone two coaches that have won at least seven CFP games. 

Click here to read more on Swinney’s record and history in the CFP.

Texas vs Clemson time today

Date: Saturday, Dec. 21
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)

Texas and Clemson will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 21 in the first round of the CFP from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

What channel is Texas vs Clemson game on today?

TV channel: TNT
Streaming: Max | Sling TV

Saturday’s CFP first-round matchup between Texas and Clemson will be broadcast nationally on TNT. Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor will be on the call. Streaming options include Max and Sling TV, which carries TNT.

Texas vs Clemson history

Texas and Clemson will meet for the first time in program history on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Texas vs Clemson predictions

Derrian Carter, The Greenville News: Texas beats Clemson

‘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.’

Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas 35, Clemson 24

Texas vs Clemson CFP betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Thursday, Dec. 19:

Spread: Texas (-12)
Over/under: 51.5 points
Moneyline: Texas (-450) | Clemson (+350)

Texas vs Clemson injury updates

This section will be updated.

Texas vs Clemson weather updates

According to Weather.com, Saturday’s forecast in Austin, Texas is expected to be sunny with a high of 62 degrees. The sun isn’t expected to set until 5:34 p.m., which will likely come at some point in the second half. There is no chance of precipitation at kickoff, with winds projected to blow southeast at 5 mph.

Texas football 2024 schedule

Here’s a look at Texas’ schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Colorado State (W, 52-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7: at No. 10 Michigan (W, 31-12)
Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. UTSA (W, 56-7)
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. UL Monroe (W, 51-3)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Mississippi State * (W, 35-13)
Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 18 Oklahoma * (W, 34-3)
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. No. 5 Georgia * (L, 30-15)
Saturday, Oct. 29: at No. 25 Vanderbilt * (W, 27-24)
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida * (W, 49-24)
Saturday, Nov. 16: at Arkansas * (W, 20-10)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Kentucky * (W, 31-14)
Saturday, Nov. 30: at No. 20 Texas A&M * (W, 17-7)
Saturday, Dec. 7 (SEC championship game): vs. No. 5 Georgia (L, 22-19 OT)
Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 12 Clemson (CFP first-round) **
Record: 11-2 overall, 7-1 in SEC play

* Denotes SEC game

** Denotes CFP ranking

Clemson football 2024 schedule

Here’s a look at Clemson’s schedule in 2024, including past scores and results:

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. No. 1 Georgia (L, 34-3)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. App State (W, 66-20)
Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. NC State * (W, 59-35)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Stanford * (W, 40-14)
Saturday, Oct. 5: at FSU * (W, 29-13)
Saturday, Oct. 12: at Wake Forest (49-14)
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. Virginia * (W, 48-31)
Saturday, Oct. 26: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. Louisville * (L, 33-21)
Saturday, Nov. 9: at Virginia Tech * (W, 24-14)
Saturday, Nov. 16: at Pitt * (W, 24-20)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. The Citadel (W, 51-14)
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. No. 15 South Carolina (L, 17-14)
Saturday, Dec. 7 (ACC championship game): vs. No. 8 SMU (W, 34-31)
Saturday, Dec. 21: at No. 5 Texas (CFP first-round) **
Record: 10-3 overall, 7-1 in ACC play

* Denotes ACC game

** Denotes CFP ranking

College Football Playoff news

Here’s some pregame College Football Playoff reading ahead of Texas-Clemson:

Our College Football Playoff bracket prediction. Who takes home the national championship?
College Football Playoff prediction: Ranking the 12 national championship contenders
College football bowl game schedule: The entire postseason lineup through playoff
College Football Playoff set for ratings war with NFL and the fallout could shape future schedule
Ryan Day, Ohio State facing disaster or finest hour in College Football Playoff

Every week for the duration of the 2024 NFL regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the league’s ever-evolving playoff picture − typically starting after Sunday afternoon’s late games and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday’s and Thursday’s games or Saturday’s, if applicable).

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 5.

Here’s where things stand with Week 16 of the 2024 season underway:

NFC playoff picture

x – 1. Detroit Lions (12-2), NFC North leaders: After getting stomped by Buffalo on Sunday, they’re now in a three-way tie atop the conference and deadlocked for the division lead following the Vikings’ win Monday night. A Week 7 win over Minnesota and conference record (8-1) that’s one game better than Philly are the tiebreakers currently serving the Lions, who may still need to win out to keep their divisional throne. Remaining schedule: at Bears, at 49ers, vs. Vikings

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

x – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-2), NFC East leaders: Winners of 10 straight, they could not clinch the division following Washington’s victory in New Orleans but can do so by ousting the Commanders on Sunday afternoon. Still, the Iggles did pull even with Detroit, but they’ll need another Lions slip-up to move into the conference’s top spot. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, vs. Cowboys, vs. Giants

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6), NFC South leaders: They embarrassed the Chargers in Week 15, which means – regardless of Atlanta’s triumph Monday night – the Bucs remain atop the division. Seattle’s loss pushed them up a spot, Tampa Bay with a better record (6-3) in conference games than the Rams (5-5). Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Panthers, vs. Saints

4. Los Angeles Rams (8-6), NFC West leaders: Win out, and they are division champs. LA overtook the Seahawks on Sunday night by virtue of their Week 9 victory at Seattle. Remaining schedule: at Jets, vs. Cardinals, vs. Seahawks

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (12-2), wild card No. 1: They clinched a spot Sunday night thanks to Seattle’s loss. Monday’s victory over Chicago means the Vikes control their own fate in the NFC North – win out, and the division is theirs … and, perhaps, the No. 1 seed, too. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. Packers, at Lions

6. Green Bay Packers (10-4), wild card No. 2: Getting swept by Detroit and losing once already to Minnesota pretty much relegates the Pack to wild-card status. Win this Monday, and they lock into the postseason field … unless other circumstances put them in sooner. Remaining schedule: vs. Saints, at Vikings, vs. Bears

7. Washington Commanders (9-5), wild card No. 3: They barely survived the Saints, but it was enough to keep them alive one more week in the division with the NFC East still technically up for grabs. With a win and some help, the Commanders can punch their playoff ticket Sunday. Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Falcons, at Cowboys

8. Seattle Seahawks (8-6), in the hunt: Sunday night’s loss to Green Bay dropped them not only out of the NFC West lead but from the projected field entirely. But, like the Rams, winning out would put Seattle atop the division. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Bears, at Rams

9. Atlanta Falcons (7-7), in the hunt: Their four-game losing streak is over after they labored past the Raiders on Monday, though it did necessitate a quarterback change. Catch the Bucs, whom the Dirty Birds swept, and they’re back atop the NFC South. A 6-3 mark in NFC games puts them three games ahead of Arizona as it pertains to that tiebreaker. Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, at Commanders, vs. Panthers

10. Arizona Cardinals (7-7), in the hunt: They broke a three-game skid by beating the Patriots but, at this point, probably need the NFC West field to come back to them. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Rams, vs. 49ers

11. San Francisco 49ers (6-8), in the hunt: The reigning NFC champs have less than a 1% chance to qualify for postseason, per NFL.com. Been that kind of season. Remaining schedule: at Dolphins, vs. Lions, at Cardinals

12. Dallas Cowboys (6-8), in the hunt: Like the Niners, whom they lost to in Week 8, their postseason hopes are on life support despite Sunday’s win in Charlotte. Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, at Eagles, vs. Commanders

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AFC playoff picture

y – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1), AFC West champions: QB Patrick Mahomes weathered Saturday’s win over Houston, which means K.C. gets the No. 1 seed if Buffalo loses Sunday. One more Chiefs win also guaranteed the AFC’s Super Bowl path will go through Arrowhead. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, at Broncos

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (11-3), AFC East champions: Sunday’s win in Detroit probably does more for their collective psyche than it really does for their playoff positioning right now. Pittsburgh’s loss makes the Bills’ second-place standing in the conference more comfortable … as does a very inviting closing stretch. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, vs. Jets, at Patriots

x – 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4), AFC North leaders: Mixed bag Sunday. The Colts’ loss (combined with Miami’s) clinched a postseason berth for the Steelers. However they’re backing up to the Ravens, this week’s opponent, in the division and probably out of the running for the No. 1 seed. Still, beat Baltimore on Saturday, and the Steelers put a bow on the division. Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Chiefs, vs. Bengals

y – 4. Houston Texans (9-6), AFC South champions: They rule a weak division for the second straight year but are just about locked in as the fourth seed … which will mean a tough wild-card matchup. Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Titans

5. Baltimore Ravens (9-5), wild card No. 1: They cruised past the sleepwalking Giants and picked up a game on Pittsburgh, the Ravens’ opponent in Week 16. Maybe the AFC North throne isn’t out of sight, though Baltimore can’t resume the top spot Saturday even by defeating the Steelers. One more win secures a wild card, at minimum. Victories over the Chargers and Broncos add another layer of security. Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Texans, vs. Browns

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6), wild card No. 2: By sweeping the Broncos for the first time in 14 years, they prevented Denver from clinching Thursday while leapfrogging their division rivals and picking up the tiebreaker (by virtue of the sweep). One more win locks Bolts into the field … unless the Colts and Dolphins do it for them by both losing on Sunday afternoon. Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Raiders

7. Denver Broncos (9-6), wild card No. 3: They had a win-and-in scenario Thursday to stamp their first postseason trip since winning Super Bowl 50 nine years ago. Now, they can’t get in this weekend unless the Colts, Dolphins and Bengals all lose. Still, one more win, and the Broncos advance to the playoffs … though much could be at stake when they head to Cincinnati in Week 17. Remaining schedule: at Bengals, vs. Chiefs

8. Indianapolis Colts (6-8), in the hunt: After Week 15’s loss at Denver, it’s basically over. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Giants, vs. Jaguars

9. Miami Dolphins (6-8), in the hunt: After Week 15’s loss at Houston, it’s basically over. Remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, at Browns, at Jets

10. Cincinnati Bengals (6-8), in the hunt: They won last Sunday, meaning there’s still a faint pulse for a dangerous team many others wouldn’t want to see next month. A 3-6 conference mark keeps them buried behind the Fins and Colts presently. Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Broncos, at Steelers

NFL playoff clinching scenarios for Week 16

Kansas City clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed with:

Buffalo loss or tie

Pittsburgh clinches AFC North with:

Win

Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:

Win or tie
Miami loss or tie + Indianapolis loss or tie

Denver clinches playoff berth with:

Miami loss or tie + Cincinnati loss or tie + Indianapolis loss or tie

Los Angeles Chargers clinch playoff berth with:

Miami loss or tie + Indianapolis loss or tie

Philadelphia clinches NFC East with:

Win or tie

Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:

Win or tie
Atlanta loss or tie + LA Rams loss or tie
Atlanta loss or tie + Seattle loss or tie

Washington clinches playoff berth with:

Win + Atlanta loss or tie + LA Rams loss or tie
Win + Atlanta loss or tie + Seattle loss or tie
Tie + Atlanta loss + Arizona loss or tie + LA Rams loss or tie + Seattle loss or tie (as long as Rams and Seahawks both don’t tie)

NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2024

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis

No. 6 Penn State scored a pair of defensive touchdowns and made a huge College Football Playoff statement with a 38-10 win against No. 11 SMU in the first round.

The Nittany Lions advance to the quarterfinals in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 3 Boise State and star running back Ashton Jeanty.

Penn State took a 28-0 lead into halftime thanks to the two defensive scores off interceptions and another touchdown on a short field with under two minutes left in the second quarter. Facing off against one of the top scoring offenses in the Bowl Subdivision, the Nittany Lions’ defense allowed only 252 yards and 1.6 yards per carry.

SMU was held out of the end zone until a touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter. The Mustangs had scored at least 28 points in all but one game during the regular season.

Combined with Friday night’s convincing win for No. 7 Notre Dame against No. 10 Indiana, this blowout will feed into the brewing controversy over the selection committee’s decision to choose the Hoosiers and Mustangs over three-loss SEC teams in Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina.

BIG MISTAKE: Indiana should never have been in the playoff field

After failing to secure wins against Ohio State and Oregon during the regular season, the 28-point victory supports the Nittany Lions’ case for being seen as one of the top contenders for the national championship.

Offensively, however, the Nittany Lions struggled to get things going through the air behind quarterback Drew Allar. The junior went 13 of 22 attempts for 127 yards but was effective on third down by extending plays with his mobility.

With Allar struggling to deliver explosive plays through the air, Penn State leaned on an elite defense and a strong running game. Led by Nicholas Singleton’s game-high 90 yards and a touchdown, the Nittany Lions ran for 189 yards on 40 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per touch. Kaytron Allen added 70 yards and a pair of scores.

As expected, SMU was unable to handle All-America defensive end Abdul Carter and the Penn State pass rush.

After an often brilliant year capped by a fourth quarter comeback that came up just short against Clemson in the ACC championship game, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings went 20 of 36 for 195 yards, an average of 5.4 yards per attempt, with one touchdown and three interceptions.

The only team in the FBS with more than three completions of 70 or more yards during the regular season, the Mustangs’ longest completion on Saturday went for 28 yards.

Hall of Fame outfielder Rickey Henderson was nicknamed the ‘Man of Steal’ for a reason.

Henderson, who died Friday at age 65, was a two-time World Series champion, 10-time All-Star and holds the MLB record for all-time stolen bases, racking up 1,406 swipes across his 25-year career from 1979-2003.

He’s the only player in MLB history to surpass 1,000 stolen bases and has 468 more than the previous record holder, Hall of Famer Lou Brock (938).

Henderson surpassed Brock’s career steals record on May 1, 1991 while playing for the Oakland Athletics, where he played four separate times throughout his career. In the Athletics’ 7-4 win over the New York Yankees, Henderson took off for third base in the fourth inning and successfully swiped the 939th base of his career. Henderson instantly ripped the base out of the ground in celebration as the crowd in Oakland applauded.

Rickey Henderson: ‘Greatest of all time’

After Henderson successfully swiped the 939th base of his career to become MLB’s all-time leader — a record that stands to this day — the matchup between the Athletics and Yankees was briefly paused to commemorate the achievement. Henderson addressed the crowd, which included Brock, the previous stolen bases leader.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

‘Lou Brock was the symbol of base stealing, but today I’m the greatest of all time,’ Henderson said in his speech.

Henderson also holds the record for most career runs scored (2,295) and is second in all-time walks (2,190), only trailing Barry Bonds (2,558).

Watch his speech below:

MLB all-time career stolen base leaders

Here are the top 10 players with the most career steals in MLB history:

Rickey Henderson* (1,406)
Lou Brock* (938)
Billy Hamilton* (914)
Ty Cobb* (897)
Tim Raines* (808)
Vince Coleman (758)
Arlie Latham (742)
Eddie Collins* (741)
Max Carey* (738)
Honus Wagner* (723)

* An asterisk denotes players who were elected to the Hall of Fame

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Two-time World Series champion Rickey Henderson, affectionately known as the ‘Man of Steal,’ passed away at the age of 65.

Henderson, with his unique playing style, was drafted in the fourth round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. He spent the first few seasons of his career playing in the minor leagues before moving up to the majors, where he played for the Oakland Athletics beginning in 1979. In his first full season with the Athletics, Henderson broke Ty Cobb’s 65-year-old American League stolen base record of 96 by successfully stealing 100 bases. The next season, he surpassed Lou Brock’s mark of 118 with 130 bags stolen.

Over the course of his 25-year career, Rickey Henderson showcased his versatility by playing for a total of nine teams, including the Yankees, Mets, Padres, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels, Mariners, and Blue Jays. This wide range of experiences allowed him to set numerous records, including the all-time records for runs scored with 2,295 and unintentional walks with 2,129. He also finished in the top 10 of MVP voting six times, winning the American League (AL) MVP award in 1990 after leading the league in runs scored, stolen bases, and on-base percentage.

Rickey Henderson’s influence on the game extended beyond his personal achievements. He won two World Series championships, first in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics and again in 1993 with the Toronto Blue Jays. His election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009 was a recognition of his impact on the sport. Henderson is widely regarded as the greatest leadoff hitter of all time.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

Social media reaction to Henderson’s death

Fans took to social media to express their condolences and pay tribute to the MLB legend.

On one college football Saturday last month, opponents poured their intense desires to beat one another onto the field. Those raw emotions spilled over into eight fights after the games.

Some of them began after victorious teams tried to plant their flags on opponents’ fields. These were all “rivalry” games. Some would say the vitriol-fueled displays should be expected.

But two weeks later, when two of the most bitter rivals in sports finished a game that would grant one of them a year’s worth of bragging rights, they honored one other instead. Navy beat Army 31-13, but after the win they followed tradition and each team sang the other’s alma mater to the fans.

As the College Football Playoff starts this weekend, and more emotions kick in, we won’t see Army or Navy. We can be reminded of their sportsmanship.

“I remember after my senior season, just not having anything left,” said Clint Bruce, a four-year Navy letterman at middle linebacker in the 1990s and a former Navy SEAL who now helps veterans and their families transition from military service. “Wasn’t my best game. And I was getting lifted up off the field, and I assumed it was gonna be my teammates, guys I served with, and it was some of Army’s offensive line.

‘It was just this commitment we made to each other, not knowing we would go to war together, but it’s a commitment we made to each other about what we knew about each other.’

Bruce lost the game four times as a player, as did former Army running back Carlton Jones, who joined him in the leadup to this year’s game to talk about civility amid their rivalry.

The event, held in Washington, D.C., was moderated by CBS broadcaster Brad Nessler and co-hosted by the Rose Bowl Institute and the Reagan Foundation & Institute, a nonpartisan initiative to help move the country past division.

Here are four things they shared that are valuable for any youth athlete, coach or parent.

(Questions and responses are edited for length and clarity. You can listen to the entire interview here.)

Opponents on field might be teammates in real life

Team spirit is something we can carry with us throughout our lives, especially through the competitive relationship we forge with opponents.

Nessler: You guys spent 364 days a year getting ready to beat each other, so the whole goal is the Commander-in- Chief’s trophy. Then when your career is over, football-wise at least, now you’re obviously on the same team. Did you have any interaction where, “OK, I’m gonna be with some Navy guys, and I’m gonna be with some Army guys?”

Bruce: In the special operations community, we operate in a joint environment, and so you run into a lot of the great Army football players. You work for guys that you competed against, and it was a real privilege because you’re always trying to learn about your leaders and you’re trying to learn about your team. And when you walk into someone who played at Army or even Air Force, there’s some things you already know about them. A lot of times you’re trying to make these high-speed trust decisions, and the inherited trust of competing against someone, it transitions to fast decision-making on the battlefield.

Jones: I was an air defense officer initially commissioned, and so on deployments I worked closely with a Navy unit. They were the mechanics on one of the platforms I was working on, and so I had to work on it every day, but I already knew they had our back. No issues, not anything. A little bit when I first heard about it, I was like, “I don’t know about working with Navy.” (Laughter.) But we get over it once everybody does their thing to do their job and complete the mission.

Like teammates, opponents can make you better

Jones, who served for the Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom, remains the Black Knights’ second-leading rusher with 3,536 yards. What he misses most about those years on the field, though, is preparing for games at West Point.

“I miss practice more than games,” he said, ‘because at practice you’re talking to your teammates, you’re involved, you have the interaction, you have the coaches. You’re pushing each other.’

Spirited competition alongside teammates, like opponents, can push athletes and teach them lesson about themselves.

Nessler: I’ve done every rivalry in the NFL: Duke-North Carolina basketball; Celtics-Lakers in NBA. I don’t broadcast baseball, but I assume people would say Yankees-Red Sox. This game, best rivalry ever?

Bruce: Show me a game where everyone playing is willing to die for everybody watching, and I’ll tell you we have company. Everybody on that field has sworn an oath to defend everyone. And I think in the annals of a rivalry, this is a unique one and it stands apart.

Jones: You can’t really fully understand it until you’re in it. The academies are hard; every day is hard because everything’s expected of you academically, militarily. And then to be an athlete, at the Division I level, it’s hard on a daily basis. You go through these periods and low times where you just want to quit, you don’t want to be there, and you almost have your paperwork drawn up. But what draws you back in is your teammates, that brotherhood. You talk to a friend, you talk to a teammate, I’m like, ‘We got this. We’re here together to get this.’ And that’s what draws you in, and that’s what makes the rivalry, that brotherhood, so strong. Because it’s not just, ‘OK, we compete together on the football field.’ On a daily basis we’re competing. We’re together on everything we do.

Bruce: And that’s life, and the faster you learn it, the better you are. And I’ve always told my daughters, ‘Hard now, easy later; easy now, hard later.’ That’s the only two ways of it. And so we front load that hard into our lives. And I would say it blesses us and those depending on us for sure.

In sports, your opponent is not your enemy

Earlier this week, Hall of Fame basketball coach Rick Pitino announced on X, formerly Twitter, his St. John’s men’s team would no longer be participating in a postgame handshake line after ‘witnessing multiple problems.’

Coach Steve: Should postgame handshake be banned in kids’ sports? No, it should be celebrated

The Army-Navy game requires postgame participation. The teams jointly sing each school’s alma mater, and it’s not an enjoyable experience for everyone. The loser’s song comes first.

‘It’s anger. It’s frustration. It’s all those things. Those emotions are going through your mind as you sit here, singing first,’ Jones says.

The end result, though, fuels the rivalry, but also a community.

Nessler: Three weeks ago, Michigan-Ohio State, Arizona-Arizona State, Florida-Florida State, North Carolina-North Carolina State, they’re trying to plant the flag and all of that. And I realize there’s a lot of 18-to-22-year-old testosterone flying around at a football game, and you don’t want people doing something on your logo, but I mean that compared to what you guys do at the end of your games, it couldn’t be farther apart.

Bruce: Especially your last (game), the magnitude, the weight of it. The appreciation for what you’ve been a part of, and the heartbreak that you’re never going to get to do it again. And the hope that the ones that come behind you play it the way you try to play it. It all hits you. I tell you, there’s one person that does not like the Army-Navy game, and it’s my bride, because her birthday is on the same day as the Army-Navy game. And for the two years that we were dating — she’s my ring dance date, we’ve been married for almost 27 years, been together for 30 — she’s just like, “Army, they’ve ruined two of my birthdays.” Because I’m not over it. I’m like, ‘I’ll send you a cake. Leave me alone.’

We’re adversaries, but we’re not enemies. Because enemy is that outside agent, that enemy of the nation that we unite against. We have this looming third-party actor that hates both of us. It’s easy to rally towards each other when that happens. And so I think we’re advantaged because we’re aware of the circumstances and the institutions that we serve in the nation that we serve. We can get shoulder to shoulder on that one pretty quickly.

‘If you’re not willing to get beat, don’t play’

Sports, like politics, is a realm of life where people feel they can mistreat others to uplift themselves. They do it through their words, but also through their actions.

Take youth sports. How many times have you watched the opposing coach try to game the system for an advantage? He or she calls a hitter over to chat when their team has the lead during a timed baseball game, or they intimidate the teenage referee into reversing a call.

Instead, you could be the one who notices a protruding gym mat that forces a basketball player’s foot out of bounds. A youth coach once stopped the game and offered my team the ball when this happened.

That’s the spirit of Army-Navy, and the lives it engenders.

Bruce: I’ve always taught my daughters: ‘You win, you lose, you get beat.’ Losing is you beat yourself; getting beat is just getting beat; and winning’s winning. Don’t lose. And if you lose and you learn, then you move that from the loss category to the getting beat category. And if you’re not willing to get beat, don’t play. Don’t show up, because that’s why we show up on Saturdays to figure it out, right?

Coach Steve: How to be a good loser, like Caitlin Clark

Nessler: I’ve seen teams try to trick the rules. That happened (with) Oregon this year. I know there’s some Michigan people in here. Coach Belichick just took the North Carolina job, so Deflategate, or Spygate. Gamesmanship and sportsmanship are two different things, aren’t they?

Jones: Gamesmanship, it’s like a gimmick. You’re looking for a gimmick that eventually they’re gonna figure out, and then you’re gonna have to start from scratch and do it all over again. For the sportsmanship, you’re doing everything right the same way every day. Then you don’t have to go back. You’re creating more work for yourself if you’re trying to find a gimmick or a shortcut. Just do everything the right way.

Nessler: You talk about sportsmanship. This recent presidential election, is that the biggest lack of sportsmanship you’ve ever seen leading up to something?

Bruce: Love will give you a gear that hate won’t. And sometimes the people I was playing against, that felt like hate, but it wasn’t, that wasn’t the heart of it. I remember when I was in the (NFL), there’s guys like, ‘You’re the meanest guy I ever played against.’ I’m like, ‘I didn’t hate you. You’re just in the way, man.’ I think the performance advantage of love as fuel versus hate for fuel is unrivaled. Hate will allow you to run hard and fight hard against an enemy. Love will make you run out of the street to pull a guy out.

Steve Borelli, aka Coach Steve, has been an editor and writer with USA TODAY since 1999. He spent 10 years coaching his two sons’ baseball and basketball teams. He and his wife, Colleen, are now sports parents for two high schoolers. His column is posted weekly. For his past columns, click here.

Justice Hill has enjoyed a quality season while serving as the Baltimore Ravens’ change-of-pace back behind Derrick Henry.

However, Hill appeared to suffer a head injury in the second quarter of the Ravens’ Week 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The injury occurred after Hill took a carry around the left side of the offensive line for a 25-yard gain. He was shoved out of bounds by Damontae Kazee and landed hard on his head.

Baltimore’s sideline staff immediately signaled that Hill required medical attention. He was shown lying motionless on the ground briefly, though he later got up and walked to the blue medical tent under his own power.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Here’s the latest to know about Hill’s injury and the Ravens’ running back depth behind him:

Justice Hill injury update

Hill finished the game with 30 yards on two carries and no catches on one target.

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter never seems to rest. He almost never leaves the field in football. And now he just put on a basketball jersey at Colorado to show what he could do with the roundball Saturday before the Colorado men’s basketball team played Bellarmine in Boulder.

He flew through the air, dunked the ball and casually did a between-the-legs slam as if he were competing in an NBA dunking contest.

He didn’t play in the basketball game but looked like he could have.

He attended the game to take part in pregame and halftime ceremonies honoring him and his Colorado football teammates before they head to San Antonio to play BYU in the Alamo Bowl Dec. 28.

It will be his last college football game before he is expected to be a top NFL draft pick in April.

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The Kansas City Chiefs came into Week 16 with concerns about how quarterback Patrick Mahomes would look after suffering a ‘mild’ high-ankle sprain in the team’s Week 15 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Mahomes quickly put those worries to bed in Kansas City’s 27-19 victory over the Houston Texans. He showed he was healthy by scrambling for 27 yards and a touchdown on two carries on Kansas City’s open drive and never looked back.

Mahomes finished the day going 28-of-41 for 260 yards and a touchdown. He connected well with Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown (five catches, 45 yards) in his team debut while also continuing to see his chemistry with rookie Xavier Worthy (seven catches, 65 yards, one touchdown) grow.

As a result, the Chiefs now need to win just once more to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed. They can also clinch the top seed if the Buffalo Bills lose any of their final three games.

The Texans had a fighting chance in this one-score loss, and it appeared they had changed the momentum when C.J. Stroud hit Tank Dell for a 30-yard touchdown to cut the Chiefs’ lead to 17-16 early in the third quarter.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

However, Dell suffered a gruesome-looking knee injury on the play. He had to be carted off the field in an air cast, which left many Texans players emotional.

After the injury and delay, Ka’imi Fairbairn missed an extra point, which set the tone for the rest of the game. The Dell injury took the wind out Houston’s sails offensively and the team simply couldn’t overcome the loss of its No. 2 receiver across from Nico Collins. The Texans scored just three more points and dropped to 9-6, positioning the AFC South winner as the likely No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the Chiefs-Texans Saturday matchup below.

Kareem Hunt seals Chiefs win with 13-yard run

On the first play after the two-minute warning, Hunt runs up the middle for 13 yards. The Chiefs can kneel on it from here and earn their 14th win of the 2024 NFL season.

Texans go three-and-out, need defensive stop to beat Chiefs

The Chiefs got a key sack of C.J. Stroud on a third-and-11 after Kansas City’s field goal drive. Joshua Williams came on a cornerback blitz and nobody picked him up, forcing the Texans to punt with just 3:41 left in regulation.

Houston has just two timeouts and the two-minute warning left to stop the clock. With a couple of first downs, the Chiefs may be able to run the clock out on this game.

Chiefs settle for field goal after Xavier Worthy knocks down pass intended for Travis Kelce

The Chiefs re-extended their lead to eight points after Harrison Butker made a chip-shot, 27-yard field goal to cap off a 14-play, 6:33 drive.

The Texans got a much-needed stop on third-and-5 when Patrick Mahomes launched a pass toward Kelce in the back of the end-zone. Worthy flashed in front of the tight end, along with a defender, and went for the ball, assuming it was intended for him. The rookie couldn’t make the catch and denied Kelce a chance at grabbing it.

In fairness to Worthy, the defender may have been able to knock the ball down anyway, as Mahomes’ pass came in on a low trajectory. Either way, Kansas City leads 27-19 with 5:13 left in the fourth quarter.

Texans inch closer with Fairbairn field goal

The Texans had a golden opportunity in the red zone, but constant pressure from the Chiefs defense and a delay of game penalty pushed Houston to attempt a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal. That pushed the Texans to within a touchdown, 24-19.

Patrick Mahomes finds Xavier Worthy for touchdown pass

Xavier Worthy accounted for 46 yards of offense on Kansas City’s scoring drive, and he capped it off with a touchdown grab from the arm of Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes is 21-of-31 passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns on the day as the Chiefs extend their lead to 24-16 with 2:42 left in the third quarter.

Tank Dell injury: Texans wide receiver carted off with gruesome knee injury

The Texans wide receiver was eventually taken off the field in a medical cart after his injury. The Texans would confirm that Dell suffered an injury to his left knee.

Ka’imi Fairbairn misses extra point after Tank Dell stretchered off in air cast

Play resumed at Arrowhead Stadium after Dell received several minutes of medical attention on the field. He was stretchered off in an air cast after getting hurt on the Texans’ touchdown after suffering a serious-looking knee injury.

The Texans were shaken up after the injury, with several players showing emotion in its wake. It isn’t clear if that had an impact on Fairbairn, but the veteran kicker missed his first extra point attempt of the season following the delay. As a result, the Chiefs still lead 17-16.

C.J. Stroud, Texans players emotional after Tank Dell injury

The NBC broadcast cut back to Arrowhead Stadium to show Dell still down and being tended to on the field, with a cart out of the locker room. The cameras then showed a clearly emotional Stroud, who was among the players gathered around Dell.

Tank Dell catches 30-yard touchdown, hurt on the play

The good news for the Texans: C.J. Stroud hit Dell on a perfectly thrown 30-yard touchdown pass. The bad news: Dell was hit by his teammate while making the catch and suffered an apparent leg injury during the play.

Dell immediately reached for his leg after the play. The Texans medical staff immediately came out to tend to him on the field.

Texans defense forces punt on first drive after Kamari Lassiter breaks up Patrick Mahomes pass

The Texans defense got off to a good start in the second half. They limited the Chiefs to five plays on their first drive before forcing Mahomes into a third-and-long. The quarterback tried to get the ball to Xavier Worthy, but Lassiter broke up the pass after undercutting the route.

Tank Dell had a nice return of Matt Araiza’s punt and that gave the Texans great starting field position around midfield.

What is the Kansas City mascot?

Texans halftime stats vs. Chiefs

Houston’s offense has moved the ball well against Kansas City’s defense, but the team has been guilty of plenty of negative plays. That includes two interceptions and a few negative-yardage runs and screen pass efforts.

Below is a look at the Texans’ notable first-half stats:

C.J. Stroud: 16-of-25 passing, 149 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Joe Mixon: 7 carries, 37 yards, 1 catch, 14 yards
Tank Dell: 5 catches, 68 yards
Nico Collins: 5 catches, 45 yards
Dalton Schultz: 2 catches, 12 yards, 1 TD

Chiefs halftime stats vs. Texans

Patrick Mahomes is spreading the ball around as usual in the Chiefs’ Week 16 game against the Texans, but it’s becoming clear that Hollywood Brown is going to be one of his favorite targets now that the veteran is back from an injured collarbone.

Below is a look at the Chiefs’ notable first-half stats:

Patrick Mahomes: 13-of-20 passing, 127 passing yards, 27 rushing yards, 1 TD
Kareem Hunt: 2 carries, 8 yards, 1 TD
Hollywood Brown: 3 catches, 38 yards
Xavier Worthy: 4 catches, 26 yards
Travis Kelce: 2 catches, 15 yards

Chiefs lead Texans 17-10 at halftime

The back-and-forth first half between the Chiefs and Texans came to an end after a C.J. Stroud Hail Mary attempt was knocked down at the goal line.

Kansas City has gotten a strong showing from Patrick Mahomes, who is showing no signs of the ankle injury he dealt with leading up to the Week 16 contest. He has completed 13-of-20 passes for 127 yards while adding a touchdown and 27 yards on the ground.

Meanwhile, Stroud has been shakier, making some big passing plays, including a 10-yard touchdown to Dalton Schultz, but has also tossed two interceptions.

The Chiefs are set to get the ball first after halftime. They scored 10 unanswered points to close the half.

Chiefs vs. Texans score update: Harrison Butker field goal gives Chiefs 17-10 lead

After missing a 29-yard field goal on his lone attempt last week, Butker makes his first attempt in Week 16 from 44 yards away. That gives the Chiefs the lead with 19 seconds left in the half.

C.J. Stroud interception: Texans QB tosses second pick of first half

The Texans were facing a third-and-20 on the edge of field goal range when Stroud tried to force a pass amid pressure. The result? Stroud hit Trent McDuffie over the middle of the field, and that allowed Chiefs to get the ball back with just under a minute left in the half.

Kareem Hunt punches in 3-yard touchdown run to give Chiefs lead

The Chiefs are back on top after an easy score for Hunt. The veteran back entered the game on a first-and-goal and patiently waited for the Chiefs’ interior offensive line to open a lane for him to the end-zone. It developed, he saw it and powered through the final yard to put the Chiefs up 14-10.

Kansas City’s go-ahead drive covered 82 yards and was 13 plays long. The Chiefs converted four third downs on the drive and will now look to protect a lead with 4:38 left until halftime.

Did Marquise Brown change his name?

No, Brown’s first name is still Marquise. He just prefers to go by his nickname ‘Hollywood,’ which most broadcasts are now doing.

Why is Marquise Brown called Hollywood?

Brown grew up in Hollywood, Fla., which is how he earned the nickname. It lends itself well to him given his origins and his flashy, speedy style of play when healthy.

Texans whistled for roughing the passer on Patrick Mahomes

A strange play just unfolded in Saturday’s Chiefs vs. Texans game. Houston pressured Patrick Mahomes and appeared to force the quarterback to fumble. The Texans picked up the ball and brought it all the way to the end zone for a touchdown.

However, the play was later ruled an incomplete pass just before Derek Barnett was called for roughing the passer. As such, the Chiefs avoided a third-and-10 and took the ball across midfield while the Texans were denied a chance to go up by two scores.

How many times has Patrick Mahomes been sacked in 2024?

Mahomes had been sacked 35 times entering Week 16. That is easily the most he has ever been sacked in a single season, seven more than his previous career high of 28 in 2021.

Dalton Schultz catches 10-yard TD from C.J. Stroud

Stroud faced pressure from George Karlaftis on a first-and-goal from the 10-yard line but scrambled out to his right to create time to throw. Eventually, he found Schultz wide open in the middle of the field and lofted a pass to him for an easy completion.

The Kansas City crowd jeered the officials for choosing not to flag what it believed was a holding call against the Texans on Karlaftis. Ka’imi Fairbairn converted on the extra point to give the Texans a 10-7 lead.

Chiefs lead Texans 7-3 after first quarter

Kansas City may be leading after 15 minutes, but Houston is driving and nearing scoring range. Nico Collins caught a 32-yard pass to close the quarter after winning quickly off the line of scrimmage and forcing the Chiefs defensive back to chase him down along the sidelines.

C.J. Stroud is 7-of-11 for 74 yards in the early goings of the game, though he did throw an interception on a first-drive overthrow. His counterpart, Patrick Mahomes, has gone an efficient 6-of-7 for 38 yards but also has run for 27 yards and a touchdown, showing that his injured ankle isn’t much of a concern at all.

The Texans were able to pressure and sack Mahomes on their second defensive drive, something they couldn’t do their first time playing defense. They will need to continuing doing that to keep Kansas City’s offense out of rhythm.

Patrick Mahomes sacked by Texans’ Christian Harris

Mahomes has been sacked more during the 2024 NFL season than he has at any point during his career. He took another one on the team’s second drive when Harris came on a blitz and dropped the Chiefs quarterback.

Mahomes got up just fine after the hit, which was notable given his injury. The loss pushed the team back into a third-and-long, however, and Kansas City was forced to punt the ball back to the Texans after failing to convert that.

Who did the Chiefs lose to this year?

The Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills 30-21 in a Week 11 during which Josh Allen racked up 317 yards and two touchdowns. That marks Kansas City’s only defeat of the 2024 NFL season through 15 weeks.

Texans settle for field goal to answer Patrick Mahomes TD run

C.J. Stroud and the Houston offense mounted a good response to Kansas City’s touchdown drive, as Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Joe Mixon ripped off some big plays to get the Texans into the red zone. Ultimately, they stalled out and Ka’imi Fairbairn came on to attempt a 33-yard field goal.

Fairbairn made the chip-shot to get the Texans on the board and make it 7-3 Chiefs.

Patrick Mahomes scrambles for TD on Chiefs’ opening drive

How healthy is Mahomes’ injured ankle? The Chiefs quarterback isn’t as fast as he has usually is, but he also showed that fans shouldn’t be overly concerned about his mobility being impacted by his ‘mild’ high-ankle sprain.

Mahomes ran for 12 yards on a third-and-13 earlier in the drive before taking off from the 15-yard line later to score a touchdown on a run up the middle.

Mahomes now has 27 rushing yards in the first quarter of the game. That’s already the fourth-most he has recorded in a single game this season.

Chiefs intercept C.J. Stroud on overthrown pass to Nico Collins

The Texans faced a third-and-12 on their first drive and Stroud tried to force a downfield shot to Collins in double coverage. Rookie Jaden Hicks caught the overthrown pass and set Kansas City up with great field position on its first drive of the day.

Shaq Mason injury update

Houston’s first drive is off to an inauspicious start, as starting right guard Mason was hurt just four plays into it. He walked off the field under his own power but headed for the blue medical tent.

The Texans were already without starting left guard Juice Scruggs and will be forced to put either Kenyon Green or Kendrick Green into action.

What time is Chiefs vs. Texans?

Start time: 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT)

The Chiefs and Texans are scheduled for kick off on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, noon CT.

Chiefs vs. Texans TV channel

TV channel: NBC

NBC will broadcast the Chiefs-Texans matchup in Week 16. Noah Eagle will be on play-by-play, and he will be flanked by Todd Blackledge (color commentary).

Is Taylor Swift at the Chiefs game today?

It appears that Swift is in attendance for the Chiefs’ Saturday matchup with the Texans. She was spotted getting onto a golf cart at Arrowhead Stadium and is presumably be transported to her suite to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, in action.

Hollywood Brown injury update

The Chiefs wide receiver, who has not played at all in 2024, will make his season debut on Saturday. Brown suffered a shoulder injury during preseason and will be a major boost to the Chiefs wide receiver corps.

Who are the announcers for the Chiefs-Texans game?

Noah Eagle (play-by-play) and Todd Blackledge (color commentary) will be the announcers for the Chiefs vs. Texans games. The duo usual broadcasts NBC’s package of prime-time college games, but they were called up to the NFL level to allow Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth to call just one game over the weekend.

Kathryn Tappen will join Eagles and Blackledge as a sideline reporter.

Is Noah Eagle related to Ian Eagle?

Yes, Noah Eagle is Ian Eagle’s son. The 28-year-old attended Syracuse and broke into sports media in 2019 before rapidly rising the ranks to become a major network play-by-play man.

Who is Patrick Mahomes’ backup?

Carson Wentz is the Chiefs’ backup quarterback for the 2024 NFL season. The former Philadelphia Eagles star signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs during the offseason to take on that role after playing behind Matthew Stafford with the Los Angeles Rams in the second half of the 2023 NFL season.

Is Patrick Mahomes playing today vs. the Texans?

On Thursday, head coach Andy Reid told reporters he expected his quarterback to make the start. That turned out to be true, as Mahomes will to start vs. the Houston.

Chiefs inactives vs. Texans

Patrick Mahomes and Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown will both play vs. the Texans today. Mahomes avoids missing a game due to injury, while Brown is making his season debut.

Texans inactives vs. Chiefs

The Texans will be without starting guard Juice Scruggs and a handful of veteran role players for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs. Below are the team’s seven inactives for the contest:

WR John Metchie
LB Devin White
DE Jerry Hughes
G Nick Broeker
G/C Juice Scruggs
TE Cade Stover
DL Folorunso Fatukasi

Chiefs vs. Texans predictions, picks

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Chiefs vs. Texans matchup will go:

Tyler Dragon: Chiefs 24, Texans 21
Jordan Mendoza: Texans 23, Chiefs 20

Chiefs vs. Texans live stream 

Live stream: Fubo | Peacock 

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season. 

Peacock, the proprietary streaming service of NBC, will also carry the game.

Chiefs vs. Texans odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Chiefs are favorites to defeat the Texans, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 

Spread: Chiefs (-3.5) 
Moneyline: Chiefs (-190); Texans (+155) 
Over/under: 42

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Who is the highest-paid NFL player?  

The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player before the 2024 season, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason. 

Who are the highest paid NFL players at each position? 

We have a complete list at every position:  

Quarterbacks 
Running backs 
Wide receivers 
Tight ends 
Offensive tackles 
Offensive guards 
Centers 
Edge rushers 
Interior defensive linemen 
Linebackers 
Cornerbacks 
Safeties 
Kickers 
Punters 

Chiefs vs. Texans weather updates 

Mother Nature won’t be involved in Saturday’s matchup outside of just making the temperature a bit colder than usual. Temperature for kickoff is expected to be just above freezing and will climb to 36 degrees throughout the matchup.

Where is Chiefs vs. Texans? 

The Texans travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs. 

AFC West standings 

The Chiefs have the AFC West locked up. Next step: No. 1 seed in the AFC. Here’s how the division looks: 

Chiefs (13-1) 
Chargers (9-6) 
Broncos (9-6) 
Raiders (2-12)