Cade Klubnik knows the stats. He knows the film. And he knows the scoreboard. Clemson’s sophomore quarterback admitted that Saturday’s loss was a gut punch—not because the Tigers were outmatched, but because they were right there.
“We put together a 17-play drive, a 14-play drive—that’s Clemson football,” Klubnik said. “The offensive line dominated all game, receivers made plays, and Adam [Randall] played his tail off. But one or two plays made the difference.”
That “difference” came in the form of two costly turnovers and a red-zone misread that Klubnik wishes he could have back. “Looking back, I should’ve handed it off,” he admitted. “But the defender just made an unbelievable play.”
Even so, the senior felt this was the offense’s most complete performance of the season—proof that growth is happening, even if the win column doesn’t show it yet.
Leadership, Resilience, and a Promise to “Keep Chasing”
If there was frustration in Klubnik’s voice, there was also resolve. After back-to-back heartbreaks, he’s made it his mission to keep the locker room locked in.
“One of my mentors told me, when you’re going through a hard time, go love on people well,” Klubnik said. “I’m just trying to be a light in this building. We’ve still got nine games guaranteed, and every dream we have is still in front of us.”
Clemson fans may feel the weight of outside noise, but Klubnik insists the team has tuned it out. “We’re not on social media, we’re staying within these walls,” he said. “We know this is a better team than last year’s. We just have to put it all together.”
The senior pointed to Randall’s energy, Tyler Brown’s steady emergence, and the pending return of Antonio Williams as reasons for optimism. He also acknowledged that NIL, expectations, and leadership responsibilities are heavy—but he embraces them.
“I didn’t dream of playing college football to make money,” Klubnik said. “I dreamed of running out of the tunnel in front of thousands of fans. That’s what keeps me going.”
For now, Klubnik’s eyes are on Syracuse and the next chance to flip the narrative. “Every week matters. This week is the only one that matters. It’s like the playoffs. We’re ready to get back to Death Valley.”