The status of star quarterback Cade Klubnik, who left Saturday's commanding 41-10 victory over Boston College with a sprained ankle, remains the single most important question hanging over Death Valley this week. And on Tuesday, the head coach's update was a masterful blend of coach-speak and cautious optimism that did little to quell the nerves of the Tiger faithful.
While Swinney confirmed the expectation is for his senior signal-caller to play against SMU, his description of Klubnik's current state was far from a full-throated endorsement.
"I mean, it's sore," Swinney told reporters. "He'll be a little better each day... We'll be ready to go."
When pressed if Klubnik would be a full participant in practice Tuesday or Wednesday, Swinney was non-committal, offering a meandering, "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sure. I mean, it's… but, I mean, yeah."
"We've got to be smart with him," Swinney conceded. "We've got almost a week before game time, so he's played a lot of football... The main thing right now is just getting him, you know, getting him... We've got [a plan] mapped out, and then he'll work into practice."
The carefully chosen words paint a picture of a quarterback who is likely tough enough to play but may be far from 100 percent. For a Clemson team that has found its offensive rhythm in back-to-back dominant wins, the health of its leader is paramount. Klubnik was enjoying a stellar performance before his ankle was rolled up on a designed run late in the third quarter, finishing 22-of-30 for 280 yards and a touchdown, plus another 48 yards and a score on the ground.
While Klubnik himself told reporters post-game that he "could have gone back in the game," the coaching and training staff are clearly taking a more prudent approach. Any limitation to Klubnik's mobility could significantly impact Clemson's offensive game plan.
For now, the situation in Clemson is clear: all eyes are on No. 2. Swinney expects him to be under center, but the "sore" ankle remains the biggest variable in a week with massive implications for the Tigers' season.