Cade Klubnik Delivers a Rivalry Win, a Statement, and a Signature Performance in Final Palmetto Bowl
COLUMBIA - Cade Klubnik didn’t just walk into Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday night - he made an entrance. Dressed head-to-toe in black, wide-brimmed hat and long coat included, Clemson’s senior quarterback looked like a man on a mission. And by the time he walked out, mission accomplished.
The Tigers knocked off South Carolina 28-14 in the Palmetto Bowl, and Klubnik was at the center of it all - calm, collected, and fully in control in what may have been his final rivalry game.
“Just played as a team,” Klubnik said after the win. “Defense showed out, offense did what we had to do, kicking team showed up.
It was fun. Great way to go out right here.”
This wasn’t just another game for Clemson. It was a response - to last year’s 17-14 loss, to a season that didn’t start the way anyone in orange had hoped, and to the noise that followed. Klubnik didn’t hesitate when asked if this one felt like redemption.
“Absolutely,” he said. “To go out against those guys with a win at their place, couldn’t ask for any more.”
A Quarterback in Command
Klubnik’s stat line tells part of the story: 24-of-39 passing for 268 yards, plus a gritty rushing touchdown. But the real impact came in how he commanded the offense. He bounced back from an early interception - a throw he owned immediately - and kept Clemson moving with poise and precision.
“Just a poor throw,” he said of the pick. “Wrong footwork, was late to the throw.
Just a bad throw. We responded and had a big play to TJ.”
That “TJ” would be T.J. Moore, who stepped up with six catches for 101 yards, including a momentum-swinging grab right after the turnover. Moore gave Klubnik a reliable target all night, and their connection helped keep the Gamecocks’ defense honest.
On the ground, Adam Randall did the heavy lifting - 24 carries, 102 yards, and a touchdown - grinding out the kind of tough yards that define rivalry games in late November. He even broke loose for what looked like a second score, only to have it called back. Klubnik didn’t hide his frustration.
“It stinks that they called back Adam’s touchdown,” he said. “It was a heck of a run. An unbelievable run.”
Execution, Improvisation, and a Little Bit of Chaos
Klubnik’s lone rushing touchdown summed up his night - and maybe his season - perfectly. The play broke down, the ball hit the turf, and somehow, he scooped it up and found the end zone.
“It’s football,” he said with a grin. “It’s not exactly how we drew it up, but it worked.”
That kind of improvisation has become a hallmark of Klubnik’s game this year. He’s not always textbook, but he finds a way. And on Saturday, he found enough ways to put Clemson in the win column - again.
The offensive game plan, Klubnik said, was designed to exploit South Carolina’s tendencies - particularly their two-high safety looks and run-fit schemes. He credited offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and the staff for dialing up the right plays, even if the execution didn’t always match the design.
“We really should have had about two more touchdowns that we just didn’t execute,” he said.
Defense Delivers the Knockout Punch
While Klubnik and the offense kept the pressure on, it was Clemson’s defense that delivered the knockout blow. Ricardo Jones’ pick-six flipped the game and gave the Tigers the breathing room they needed.
“When he got that touchdown, that was awesome,” Klubnik said. “I felt like it almost sealed it.”
And from there, Clemson never looked back.
More Than a Game, More Than a Season
This win marked Clemson’s fourth straight, a strong finish to a season that tested the Tigers in ways few expected. For Klubnik, it was a moment to reflect - not just on the game, but on the journey.
“We love football. We love to play and just love to compete,” he said.
“We love each other. It’s four straight wins now.
We just continue to fight. That’s not easy.”
He also didn’t shy away from what his head coach, Dabo Swinney, has meant to him.
“I wouldn’t want any other coach,” Klubnik said. “That’s the reason I came here.
That’s the reason everybody’s standing here. He’s my favorite coach I’ve ever had in my life.”
The two shared a long embrace on the field after the final whistle - a fitting end to Klubnik’s rivalry run in Columbia.
Legacy Beyond the Record
For some players, legacy is measured in wins and losses against a rival. Klubnik sees it differently.
“I don’t think that my legacy is in a record versus a team,” he said. “I think my legacy is the impact that I’ve had on people’s lives. Thirty, forty years from now, nobody’s going to remember my record as a starting quarterback.”
Still, he couldn’t help but crack a smile.
“It is pretty great to be 2-1 versus these guys as a starter.”
One More Game
With the regular season wrapped, Clemson now waits to find out its bowl destination. Klubnik, though, isn’t sweating the details.
“No, but I’m just excited for another game,” he said. “Excited to go have a couple more weeks with some of these guys and with this coaching staff.”
On a night when Clemson found its rhythm, its resolve, and its leader, Klubnik gave the Tigers exactly what they needed - and maybe a little more. Rivalry games are supposed to be emotional, unpredictable, and memorable. Klubnik made sure this one checked all three boxes.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s a rivalry for a reason. It was good to get that one.”