AUSTIN, Texas — Cade Klubnik delivered an outstanding performance against Texas’ defense on Saturday night, showcasing skills that earned him the title of the most effective opposing quarterback this season, though it wasn’t enough for him and his team to claim victory on a memorable night back home.
Klubnik, a junior quarterback from Austin playing for Clemson, threw for an impressive 336 yards and three touchdown passes. His leadership fueled a second-half effort where No. 12 seeded Clemson aimed to mount a comeback against No. 5 Texas after trailing by 18 at the break. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they fell short in this College Football Playoff matchup, losing 38-24.
“I’m hurting a lot,” Klubnik expressed following the game. “It was nice to come home, but this wasn’t supposed to be a vacation. It was about winning a football game, and we didn’t accomplish that.”
In the third quarter, Klubnik propelled the Tigers on a quick four-play, 55-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to running back Jarvis Green for 25 yards, narrowing the gap to 31-17. Early in the fourth quarter, he orchestrated another scoring drive covering 64 yards, connecting with T.J. Moore for a crucial 7-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-6 play, making the score 31-24.
“We placed ourselves in a position to win,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney commented. “That young man (Klubnik) has evolved into an incredible leader. With him on the field, you are never out of a game.”
Klubnik had a challenging task ahead, especially after Jaydon Blue sprinted 77 yards for a touchdown on Texas’ first possession following Moore’s score. Nonetheless, Klubnik managed to lead a drive that brought Clemson to Texas’ 1-yard line after successfully connecting with Moore three times for significant gains of 29 and 30 yards.
However, the drive ended in frustration when Texas safety Michael Taaffe thwarted Klubnik on third down, and a subsequent fourth-down attempt fell short as Keith Adams was stopped by defensive players Bill Norton and Barryn Sorrell. The final chance for a comeback slipped away when Klubnik’s fourth-down pass to the end zone was blocked by Taaffe at the Longhorns’ 25-yard line with just over a minute left.
A unique subplot to the game was Klubnik and Taaffe’s shared history, as they were teammates at Westlake High School, winning the Texas state championship together in 2020. Interestingly, the quarterback they defeated that day was none other than Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. This background added an engaging twist to Klubnik’s homecoming experience.
Additionally, another former Westlake teammate, Texas defensive end Ethan Burke, also contributed to the challenge, sacking Klubnik in the first half. Earlier in the week, Taaffe reflected on their close bond, calling Klubnik his “best friend” from their high school state championship team.
“We were definitely exchanging words throughout the game; it was entertaining,” Taaffe said. “He played really well, and it was great to see.”
