Hype surrounded Cade Klubnik at the start of the 2025 season as Clemson’s star QB, a Heisman hopeful, and a projected top NFL draft pick. But this season has unfolded far differently than expected. Clemson’s rocky 1-2 start, with losses to LSU and Georgia Tech, has made him struggle. In three games, he has completed just 59.1% of his passes for 633 yards, throwing 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His QBR sits in the low 40s, which is surprisingly low for a guy once considered one of the nation’s best quarterbacks.
Urban Meyer recently hopped on Colin Cowherd’s show to break down the Clemson quarterback situation, and his take was pretty straightforward. “I still think they got a hell of a team,” Meyer said. “For some reason, Clubnik’s not playing well. For some reason, their team just, I think their schedule is going to lighten up here, and they’ll go on a run, and they’ll get it figured out.” Looking deeper, Clemson’s early schedule was brutal, with tough matchups against LSU and Georgia Tech.
And both of which exposed Klubnik and the offense. But starting this week, Clemson’s slate does get softer. Upcoming games against Syracuse, Boston College, and Duke are winnable, giving Klubnik and the Tigers a chance to build momentum. But can Clubnik make amends? Well, Clemson’s head coach Dabo Swinney has not lost faith, and honestly. In a fiery news conference, he reminded everyone that Clemson has been a powerhouse for years, winning the ACC eight times in the last decade and making the College Football Playoff seven times in the last 10 years. Swinney’s not about to roll over just because things got a little messy early.
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He even said that if people are tired of Clemson winning, they can “send me on my way.” This team still has plenty of weapons and talent on both sides of the ball. The core of that 2025 Clemson squad largely returned from last year’s ACC championship team. So it’s not like they’re starting from scratch. The defense is adjusting to new coordinator Tom Allen but shows promise, and the offense, led by Klubnik, is still finding its groove. But for how long? After three weeks, the hard truth about Cade Klubnik’s struggles is starting to set in.
He’s averaging just about 211 passing yards per game, with three interceptions and multiple turnovers. One glaring problem is Klubnik’s tendency to panic under pressure, which has led to poor decision-making and costly mistakes. For example, crucial turnovers like a fumble on Clemson’s opening drive against Georgia Tech and a goal-line interception swung momentum away from the Tigers and led to lost scoring chances. But it’s not all his fault. Analyst Joel Klatt broke it down bluntly. “To me, the Clemson problems on offense are a more holistic problem than specific to Klubnik,” said Klatt. “He has been under duress. They have not been able to run the football. Antonio Williams, his best wide receiver, has not been on the field. So, I don’t want to pin this directly on Klubnik, even though he has not played well.”
The run game has also been shaky at only 108.3 yards per game, making defenses stack the box on Klubnik. To make matters worse, Clemson’s offense just can’t stay on the field long enough. They had only eight trips to the red zone all season and lost the time-of-possession battle in every game. The absence of Antonio Williams, Clemson’s top receiver, hasn’t helped either, but Klatt insists it’s more than one missing piece.
Dabo Swinney’s aversion to transfer portal finds Urban Meyer’s voice
Dabo Swinney has been vocal about his unease with the current state of college football. And especially when it comes to NIL and the transfer portal. He’s openly criticized how unchecked transfer portal activity and NIL deals have created an environment where agents and outside entities wield too much influence, often leading to players moving for money rather than fit or development. Swinney has called for more structured rules, transparency, and even a salary cap-like system similar to the NFL.
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His approach favors developing talent through high school recruiting and building continuity rather than chasing quick fixes via the portal. For example, Clemson only added six transfers in 2025 compared to LSU’s 18, showing its minimalist and loyalty-focused recruiting style. But while Swinney isn’t the biggest fan of this new era, Urban Meyer thinks Swinney gets it, and he’s adapting. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that first of all, Coach Sweeny’s won a lot of games,” Meyer said to Cowherd.
“He’s a smart guy. I know him well. At some point, I do believe I think he already did this year. He took some transfers this year. They’re easing into it.” See, Swinney is easing up to the change. It’s a strategic kind of easing in, balancing tradition with modern realities. Instead of diving headfirst into a flood of transfer athletes, Swinney has selectively used the portal to fill key gaps.