With more than two minutes left on fourth-and-11, the Clemson QB had one final chance. But Cade Klubnik stood in the pocket as the clock bled away and Yankee Stadium froze around him. A wave of Penn State defenders crashed in, ending the play and his collegiate career in one brutal moment.

Following that, he rose, walked to the sideline, and never looked back, as that sack was the final snap. With that, Clemson lost 10-22 to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl, marking the fourth time in Klubnik’s career his offense scored 10 or fewer points. Now, finishing his career with a loss naturally disappointed the QB, who stayed with the Tigers throughout his entire college career.

“It’s been a good four years … yeah,” said Klubnik in the post-game conference, pausing to fight back tears after a pat on the back from Dabo Swinney.

While it showed how close the QB was to his head coach, it also made it clear he didn’t expect this kind of ending.

“I wanted to go out with a win,” said Klubnik. “Just didn’t get it done.”

Clemson’s offense hit rock bottom, managing a season-low 236 total yards and its fewest points of the year. More importantly, the Tigers found the end zone just once. Adam Randall powered in from two yards out with 8:47 left, trimming Penn State’s lead to 15–10 and briefly sparking hope. That offensive struggle didn’t go unnoticed.

“We just didn’t execute,” said the Tigers’ head coach.

But it wasn’t just the offense, even the defense was “really poor,” as per Dabo Swinney. And for Cade Klubnik, it was a grind to the very end.

He finished 22 of 39 for 193 yards in his final college game, as Penn State kept constant pressure on him, recording four sacks and eight pass breakups. But throughout his four seasons, he showed brilliance for the Tigers. While he became the starter toward the end of the 2022 season, he led Clemson for three seasons, helping the Tigers win two ACC titles and making the CFP in 2024.

But that spark didn’t show in his final college game. Still, the head coach knows Klubnik’s potential, which is why he had nothing but praise for him even after the Penn State bowl loss.

“I love this kid. He’s (Cade Klubnik) a warrior, man,” said Swinney following the Pinstripe Bowl loss. “He’s as tough as they come. He is the same guy every day… He’s gonna be a great pro. He’s just now scratching what his true potential is gonna be, and I can’t wait to watch it.”

Not just Klubnik, but Dabo Swinney’s entire team fought hard this season to bounce back. Yes, the program endured a disappointing 3–5 start and then a bowl loss, but despite it all, Clemson still finished with a 7–6 record. Now, that resilience is likely why Swinney never flinched when expressing pride in his team.

“We did a poor job of winning close games this year… but I’m proud of this team’s resolve, their fight, and their willingness to get up and keep competing,” said Swinney.

While the coach acknowledged his team could have done better, it didn’t change the Tigers’ rocky season or the fact that Klubnik’s final year ended on a rough note. That made the QB emotional, but his contributions to the Tigers were undeniable.

Dabo Swinney’s take on Cade Klubnik

The final score didn’t tell the full story. Surely, Cade Klubnik’s Clemson career ended with a bowl loss, but his legacy was already sealed, and his resume now lives in the program’s history books.

On Saturday night in the Bronx, Klubnik rewrote Clemson history. He passed Tajh Boyd to become the school’s all-time leader in completions, finishing with 916 for his career.

To cap it off, he also crossed the 10,000-yard mark, joining elite company alongside Boyd and Deshaun Watson. To cap it off, he earned two ACC Championship MVPs over 40 career starts, finishing with a 26–14 record. Not flashy at the end, but undeniably impactful. Perhaps that’s why Dabo Swinney didn’t dwell on the loss, he focused on the player.

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“This kid has done a lot of great things,” said Swinney. “I focus on what he did do. This kid has a lot more football ahead of him.”

Even the quarterback acknowledged his coach’s role in his college journey.

“I want to be the best Cade that I can be because of him,” Klubnik said of Swinney. “He saw something in me when I was in Austin, Texas, and I wanted to go fulfill that.” Can Klubnik continue this same production in the NFL?