After 34 consecutive games as the starting quarterback for the Clemson Tigers, Cade Klubnik's streak came to an end as he was missing from the starting lineup against the SMU Mustangs.
As Klubnik continued to battle a knee injury he suffered in Clemson's previous game against the Boston College Eagles, redshirt sophomore QB Christopher Vizzina will step in as the starter for the Tigers.
Despite Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reporting Klubnik as questionable leading up to the ACC matchup, the veteran quarterback walked onto the field in street clothes, virtually cementing Vizzina as the starter.
Klubnik came out in shorts, so he’s not playing. It’ll be Christopher Vizzina, as expected. https://t.co/NNf66X0TQ0
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 18, 2025
Who is Christopher Vizzina?
Prior to the matchup against SMU, Vizzina had appeared in just nine games so far in his collegiate career, earning just 227 yards on 26 completions for zero touchdowns and one interception.
Vizzina redshirted his freshman season after appearing in fewer than six games, allowing him to maintain the year of eligibility.
So far this season, he has appeared in Clemson's games against Troy, UNC, and Boston College. In those three matchups, he earned 37 yards on seven completions while also running the ball seven times for 21 yards on the ground.
Coming out of high school in 2023, Vizzina was a four-star prospect, making him the No. 8 quarterback in the class and the No. 10 athlete out of the state of Alabama that year. He committed to Clemson over powerhouse SEC programs like Georgia, Auburn, and Ole Miss.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, Clemson, led by Vizzina on offense, and SMU were scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET, and the game would be airted on the ACC Network.