Clemson’s start against Troy was anything but smooth. A first-half weather delay left the Tigers trailing and searching for rhythm. Klubnik admitted the unusual pause threw off his focus.
“It wasn’t the way we wanted to start the game. It was weird controlling, you know. I didn’t really know how long we were going to be in there… so it was kind of hard to manage my emotions,” Klubnik said. “I probably ended up watching the first three plays probably 10 times each. Honestly, that delay probably helped us… they came out with something different we hadn’t seen on film.”
Managing Turnovers and Frustration
The Tigers’ quarterback acknowledged that his early interception shifted momentum, but he stressed that part of playing the position is accepting what’s out of his control.
“That’s just, you know, we’re backed up, just trying to get a quick completion, and the guy just kind of jumped up and got unlucky there. Not really in my control,” Klubnik explained. “Last year, in moments like that, we didn’t persevere. But this time, we pushed through and stuck together.”
Halftime Reset: “Reminded Us Who We Are”
Down at the break, Clemson needed answers. Klubnik said the locker room message from Dabo Swinney and Garrett Riley was clear: stay calm and stick to their identity.
“I don’t think anybody felt panicked. We know who we are,” Klubnik said. “There’s a lot of game left… let’s go dominate this first drive. That lit a fire in everybody.”
The Tigers did just that, flipping the momentum with a quick second-half scoring drive.
Run Game Sparks the Offense
Running back Adam Randall carried the load in the comeback, and Klubnik praised his teammate’s effort.
“Oh man, it was awesome. The guys up front and tight ends did a heck of a job creating big gaps for him. For Adam to go play like he did, I don’t think anybody’s surprised. He just dominated and carried the team on his back today.”
Big Plays Through the Air
Klubnik pointed to his connection with Bryant Wesco as another turning point. One long touchdown in the fourth quarter was the result of both patience and execution.
“We had a big play fake on it and let Bryant run the post. We got the look, just had to sell it long enough… offensive line, tight ends, and backs did a great job buying time for me. I found a way to get it to him, and he made it happen.”
He added that Wesco’s development has pushed the offense forward:
“He can do really anything on the field. He’s really smart, sees the field well. It’s fun to come to the sideline and talk about what we’re both seeing.”
Staying in Rhythm
After struggling in the first half, Klubnik repeatedly circled back to rhythm as the key to the second-half surge.
“Getting some good completions, getting the run game going… scoring points definitely helped,” he said. “In the first half it was just self-inflicted wounds: false starts, holding, sacks. In the second half, we just played efficient football.”
Looking Ahead to ACC Play
Clemson now shifts focus to Georgia Tech. Klubnik said the Tigers will celebrate the Troy comeback but are ready for conference play.
“Winning’s hard, especially with a team like that, so I’m going to celebrate this win and then go back to work tomorrow,” Klubnik said. “Conference play is always exciting. We’re ready for it.”
A Defining Early Test
For Klubnik, the win was more than just another notch in the standings—it was a moment of growth for Clemson’s young offense.
“A game like this is going to make us better. No matter who you’re playing, a comeback like that is tough. Just to be resilient and push through was awesome. I don’t think I’ve been in a comeback win like that since I’ve been here, and that was really cool to see.”