The Texas Longhorns’ path to a national championship may have just gotten far more treacherous. With their College Football Playoff semifinal showdown against the Clemson Tigers looming, the Longhorns appear likely to be without one of their most electric playmakers.
Bond Facing Uphill Battle
Sources have informed ESPN that Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond, still recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered in the SEC title game, faces long odds to suit up against Clemson on Saturday. The speedy junior has been limited in practice this week, focusing primarily on rehab.
Bond aggravated the ankle injury during the Longhorns’ loss to Georgia earlier this month. While he’s made progress, insiders say he would need to show dramatic improvement over the next 48 hours to have any chance of taking the field.
A Pivotal Absence
Losing Bond would be a massive blow to a Texas offense already facing the daunting task of keeping pace with Clemson’s high-powered attack. The dynamic wideout ranks third on the Longhorns with:
- 33 catches
- 532 receiving yards
- 5 touchdowns
Bond’s game-breaking speed forces defenses to account for him on every snap. Without that threat, Clemson could key in on containing running back Bijan Robinson and Texas’ other weapons.
Glimmer of Hope for the New Year
While Bond appears destined to miss the semifinal, there is cautious optimism he could return if Texas advances. Sources indicate he would have a better chance to play against Arizona State in an unofficial New Year’s Day quarterfinal matchup.
Of course, the Longhorns must first find a way past the favored Tigers without their home run hitter. Younger receivers will need to step up, and the offensive game plan may need to be tweaked.
As electric as Isaiah Bond is, this is still a team game. The next man up will be ready to make plays. We have full faith in every guy on this roster to get the job done.
— Texas head coach Brennan Murphy
The Road Ahead
Texas fans undoubtedly hoped to be at full strength for this titanic clash. Alas, the injury bug appears to have bitten at the worst possible time.
Can the Longhorns find a way to overcome Bond’s absence? Will young playmakers rise to the occasion on the sport’s biggest stage?
We’ll start to get those answers Saturday night under the bright lights in Seattle. One thing’s for sure – even without their biggest star, the Longhorns won’t be going down without a fight.
