Banks expected to play, Bond unlikely to for Texas in CFP 1st round
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas freshman Ryan Wingo will get the start at slot receiver for an injured Isaiah Bond in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Bond's high ankle sprain, which he suffered Dec. 8 in the Southeastern Conference championship game, hasn't healed enough for head coach Steve Sarkisian to play the speedy Alabama transfer, leaving it to a dynamic freshman and the future of the position at Texas. Sarkisian said Saturday morning on ESPN's College Gameday that Wingo "is a budding star" for Texas.
Kelvin Banks Jr., the All-American left tackle for Texas, is expected to play, and that's a sigh of relief for the Longhorns offense. Banks injured his ankle against Texas A&M on Nov. 30 and had to miss the SEC title game the following week. With the time off, his ankle has progressed enough that he'll start with Trevor Goosby as the backup.
Clemson running back and 1,000-yard rusher Phil Mafah is expected to play through a shoulder injury. In the last four games, Mafah hasn't been his typical self, rushing for a combined 125 yards on 53 carries.
The game is set to kick off at 3 p.m. CT and air on TNT and stream on Max.