AUSTIN, Texas — The upcoming matchup features Quinn Ewers from Texas and Cade Klubnik from Clemson, two quarterbacks with a well-documented championship rivalry. Both hailing from Texas, they faced off previously in January 2021 during the Texas Class 6A state championship when they were among the nation’s top-rated junior recruits. Klubnik and his team, Austin Westlake, triumphed over Southlake Carroll with a decisive score of 52-34. This weekend, they are set to meet again as No. 12 seed Clemson (10-3) goes head-to-head against No. 5 seed Texas (11-2) in the first round of the newly-expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Klubnik is eager to take the first step toward a national title on home turf, just a short distance from his childhood haunts, including the high school known for producing NFL legends like Drew Brees, Nick Foles, and Sam Ehlinger. The emotions were palpable when the matchup was announced, as a camera captured Klubnik’s surprised reaction while being embraced by Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.
Reflecting on their past, Klubnik mentioned their history, noting, “Quinn and I go way back. We were rivals since seventh or eighth grade. The state championship game during my junior year was definitely a notable event.” Their previous encounter isn’t merely a historical footnote; it’s regarded as legendary in Texas, a state rich in college football talent and memories.
Klubnik’s Westlake team had won the state title the year prior, and the championship game was pushed to 2021 due to delays from the pandemic. During that game, Ewers was the top-rated junior quarterback in the nation, already committed to Ohio State, while Klubnik was ranked second and remained uncommitted at that time. Ewers impressed with 351 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Klubnik tallied 220 passing yards, completed 18 of 20 passes, and added another 97 rushing yards.
Southlake Carroll’s coach Riley Dodge remarked on Klubnik’s explosive play, stating, “It isn’t easy when the quickest player on the field has the ball all the time.” Among Klubnik’s Westlake teammates was Michael Taaffe, who now plays as a safety for Texas, along with Ethan Burke and Colton Vasek as current Longhorns’ defensive linemen.
Taaffe recounted the bond he built with Klubnik during that unprecedented season. “We had no choice but to focus on football and each other while navigating the impacts of COVID-19. Our goal was to win a state championship,” he shared. Taaffe had an interception against Ewers in the title match and looks forward to facing Klubnik again, vowing not to hold back. He emphasized the competitive nature of their impending battle, stating, “My role is to take the will of my opponent. It doesn’t matter if he’s my best friend or my least favorite person.”
After their significant win in 2021, Klubnik led Westlake to another championship the following year. Recognized as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, he became Clemson’s starting quarterback last season, throwing 33 touchdown passes this year to lead the Tigers back to competitive form after a tough start against Georgia. In a crucial moment, he threw four touchdown passes to help secure the ACC championship, making it their first playoff berth since 2020.
Ewers, on the other hand, made the decision to leave high school early and committed to Ohio State after the disappointing loss. Following a season on the bench, he transferred to Texas, where he played a pivotal role in revitalizing the program. Last season, Ewers helped lead Texas to the Big 12 title and its first playoff appearance in a four-team format. The Longhorns saw themselves ranked No. 1 this season for the first time since 2008, narrowly losing the SEC championship to Georgia.
Looking forward to this rematch, Ewers described it as “cool.” With a more mature look now, Ewers noted the evolution of their friendship as they prepare to face each other once again, stating, “Cade and I have maintained a good relationship. It’s definitely exciting to play against each other again, coming full circle.”
