Cade Klubnik wanted one thing in his final game at Clemson — a win. When it didn’t come, the weight of the moment settled in quickly.
“Just wanted to go out with a win,” Klubnik said. “Just didn’t get it done. But just thankful for everybody that I’ve been able to spend life with over the past four years. It’s been a good four years.”
The Pinstripe Bowl loss to Penn State closed a season that tested Clemson’s margin for error and snapped several long-standing program streaks. Despite holding Penn State to 22 points, Clemson fell for just the fourth time in its last 132 games when allowing fewer than 23 points — and for the second time this season, following the opener against LSU.
That theme, Dabo Swinney said, defined the year.
“I know what’s real. I know what’s not,” Swinney said. “I know we’ve got seven wins, but we’re a lot closer than people think. It’s one more catch. It’s one more good throw. It’s a better call. It’s one stop.”
Swinney acknowledged the outside noise surrounding Clemson’s recent slide — from the end of six straight College Football Playoff appearances to the snapping of a 14-year postseason winning streak — but emphasized evaluation over reaction.
“You evaluate everything,” he said. “That’s just part of our business. I don’t make emotional decisions. Is it personnel? Is it scheme? Is it bad calls? There’s a lot of things you evaluate as a coach.”
When asked what he personally might change heading into next season, Swinney declined specifics.
“There’s plenty of things,” he said. “But I’ll keep those to myself.”
Klubnik, sitting beside Swinney, spoke emotionally about what the head coach meant to him across four seasons.
“My favorite coach I’ve ever had,” Klubnik said. “The biggest thing I admire is consistency. He’s the exact same person every single day. That’s something I try to live after.”
Klubnik credited Swinney with shaping him on and off the field, noting his growth in faith and leadership.
“I get to leave this place with a smile on my face,” he said. “Sad that it’s over, but glad that it happened. It’s been even better than I could have ever imagined.”
Swinney returned the sentiment.
“Man, I love this kid,” Swinney said. “He’s a warrior. He’s as tough as they come. He’s a Top 5 winning quarterback in the history of this school. You win as a team, you lose as a team — and this kid has done a lot of winning.”
As Clemson turns the page, Swinney framed the season not as an ending, but a recalibration.
“This is the second-worst season we’ve had in 17 years,” he said. “It’s never as good as you think. It’s never as bad as you think. There will be something good come from this.”
For Klubnik, the chapter is complete. For Clemson, the evaluation has already begun.