The gamble paid off. Klubnik exploded in 2024 with more than 4,000 total yards and 42 touchdowns. He capped the year with an MVP performance in the ACC title game, tossing four scores in a 34-31 win over SMU that secured Clemson’s return to the College Football Playoff.

The Clemson Tigers and quarterback Cade Klubnik took a big step last year to the College Football Playoff, but now they want more.

In fact, Sam Khan Jr. and Antonio Morales of The Athletic recently ranked Klubnik as the top signal-caller in the country heading into the 2025 college football season, with LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers trailing him.