Cade Klubnik leads No. 12 Clemson into Rivalry Clash with No. 15 South Carolina
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Saturday's Palmetto Bowl against South Carolina isn’t just a rivalry game for Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik—it’s a chance at redemption and an opportunity to lead the Tigers into uncharted territory. With both teams vying for a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, the stakes have never been higher.
The Tigers (9-2) hope to finish strong, rebounding from an early loss to now 6th-ranked Georgia and a stumble against unranked Louisville. The Gamecocks (8-3), led by a disruptive defense and a resurgent offense, pose a formidable challenge.
For Klubnik, the game’s significance isn’t lost, especially after Clemson’s heartbreaking 31-30 loss to South Carolina in 2022—their first defeat in the rivalry since 2014—while snapping a 40-game home winning streak.
Klubnik has been in his share of big games, but the junior quarterback looks for a marquee win this season as the Tigers march toward the finish line. Tomorrow, Klubnik faces something different: the Palmetto Bowl, a rivalry game with not only state pride but College Football Playoff hopes on the line.
Rivalries are nothing new to the Austin, Texas native. He grew up watching Texas square off with Oklahoma and Texas A&M in games packed with emotion. Still, his first taste of the Clemson-South Carolina rivalry in 2022 opened his eyes to the unique fervor surrounding the battle for South Carolina.
“I think I realized it coming in the spring,” Klubnik said. “People were talking about it, and then I remember going down to Columbia with Will Taylor that summer and hearing more. But you don’t truly understand it until you’ve experienced it. Once we played them, it really set in.”
That game left a bitter taste. Klubnik stood on the sidelines as then-starter D.J. Uiagalelei struggled in a 31-30 loss. Watching the Gamecocks celebrate on the Tigers’ field was a moment Klubnik will never forget.
“It was a lot of mixed emotions. As a competitor, you always want to play,” Klubnik said. “But it wasn’t my time yet. Walking off that field and seeing them celebrate—that’s something I’ll never forget. I don’t want to experience that again.”
Even though he led the Tigers to a 16-7 win last year in Columbia, Klubnik now has his chance to rewrite the script on Frank Howard Field. Clemson enters this year’s game ranked No. 12, while South Carolina sits at No. 15. Both teams are fighting for a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff, adding even more weight to an already passionate rivalry.
Klubnik knows South Carolina’s defense presents a significant challenge. The Gamecocks boast a formidable front four led by defensive ends Dylan Stewart and Kyle Kennard.
“They’ve got a great front four—long, twitchy ends and disruptors in the middle,” Klubnik said. “They’re physical, competitive, and love to play the game. You love facing defenses like that.”
The Tigers will need every bit of Klubnik’s mobility and poise to handle South Carolina’s pressure. While Klubnik’s legs have been a weapon throughout the season, he knows when and how to use them will be critical. Klubnik has been sacked 16 times this year, well off the 28 sacks he took a year ago, but he will need to be crafty in tomorrow’s contest.
“You can’t go into a game pressing to use that,” Klubnik said. “You’ve got to see how the game plays out and take advantage when you can.”
Beyond the X’s and O’s, Klubnik understands the emotional weight of the Palmetto Bowl. But he’s learned that the key to winning rivalry games lies in controlling those emotions.
“With rivalry games, all the emotion kind of goes out the window after the first play,” Klubnik said. “It’s about poise in the moment. The field’s the same size, the ball’s the same size—it’s just about putting the ball down and playing.”
For Klubnik, Saturday’s game is about more than a spot in the playoff. It’s about ensuring this year’s seniors don’t leave the field in Death Valley like the 2022 class did.
“I remember Davis Allen, J-Mack [Jordan McFadden], and the guys who had to leave their careers like that,” Klubnik said. “I felt so bad for them. That’s not a feeling I want to repeat.”
As the Tigers and Gamecocks prepare to renew their rivalry, Klubnik is ready to lead. For Clemson, it’s a chance to protect state bragging rights and prove they belong in the playoff. For Klubnik, it’s an opportunity to cement his legacy in one of college football’s fiercest rivalries, and this time, the junior quarterback is ready to take the reins.