Clemson QB Cade Klubnik reflects on last year‘s loss to South Carolina

Cade Klubnik has carried one memory longer than he ever wanted to. The loss to South Carolina in 2024 didn’t fade with time, and when he was asked about it this week, he paused before admitting, “It’s definitely been something I’ve thought about every day since.” That game became one of those moments that follows an athlete from season to season, whether he wanted it to or not.

This weekend offers him the chance to finally reshape that feeling. Klubnik sits 1–1 against the Gamecocks, and with only two more games left in his Clemson career, the rivalry suddenly feels like a personal checkpoint. He’s learned that the emotions around the Palmetto Bowl come with their own rhythm, even if players try to keep things simple. “I mean, you have to go about it like it’s any other game,” he said. “But it’s also, you know, it’s a season of its own. And it is a game that lasts forever. And until you’ve really played it, you don’t really understand it. So, you know, if you’re a young guy, and thankfully we don’t have too many of those, a lot of guys have kind of lived this game. And just go play free and go play your game.”

Clemson heads into Columbia on a three-game surge, hoping to close out a bumpy season in a better place than where it started. For Klubnik, the finish matters — not only for the record books but for what he leaves behind. His final appearance in Death Valley came with plenty of emotion, but the chance to end the rivalry on a high note could mean even more. “That’s going to last, you know, a long time,” Klubnik said. “So that meant a lot to me. And that – I think just, you know, it meant a lot to me, and just everything that this place has meant to me. I got two more games left. I’m continuing to give everything I have, and I’m excited to be able to wear that Paw two more times.”

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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik is ready for South Carolina this season