When we talk about the biggest disappointments of the season, Clemson stands out in big, bold letters on that list. Dabo Swinney was confident that they would be 16-0 this year. A poor display from the Tigers has already brought them 2 losses, knocking them out of the AP Poll altogether. It’s a bad look for Swinney, and also for his star and trump card–Cade Klubnik. The QB’s elite form remains elusive to him so far into the season, which spells trouble for his future.

Klubnik entered the season as one of the top candidates to win the Heisman this year. Not just that, he was also expected to be a No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. It was all because of the way he came back up in 2024 after a troubling 2023. That form convinced us that Cade Klubnik will be even better this year. But with just 211 yards made on average so far (633 total), Klubnik seems to be taking a step backwards instead of forwards.

The star QB has played only 3 games so far. But the quality of production that’s come from him is worrying. Draft analyst Todd McShay broke it all down in a September 17 episode of The Triple Option. He ranked Cade Klubnik as the 3rd best QB for the 2026 draft. “I see a quarterback who comes into games and is like a little too amped up. Pressure–the pressure has been on him,” McShay said of Klubnik. “It seems like Klubnik has not gotten into his rhythm,” he added. He recalled the QB’s brilliant command during the Pittsburgh game last year. “Now, it feels like he’s playing tense,” the analyst noted.

Unfortunately for Klubnik, the supporting cast has done anything but support him so far. The Tigers’ offensive line seems to be shot. For its performance in the LSU game, PFF gave it a pass protection grade of 54.3. Against Georgia Tech, the run block game was as meager as 53.8. The QB is also missing a top receiver in Antonio Williams. The QB has scored only 3 TDs so far and has also been intercepted three times by now. Cade Klubnik is on the alarmingly low rank of No. 100 in ESPN’s QB ratings. It just doesn’t seem to be working out for him. Swinney needs to rework the offense as a whole to ensure Klubnik’s success.

Klubnik has reportedly fallen out of first-round projections as well, according to Athlon Sports. That’s alarming for someone who was once a strong favorite to go as the No. 1 pick. Unless the QB makes sure to deliver nothing but sheer skill in the rest of his games this season, the draft is going to be tough for him. This is his last year in college football, and the clock is ticking. But the rest of the offense also has to show up.

Joel Klatt blames both Cade Klubnik and the offense for Clemson’s struggles

Klubnik’s fall in the FBS has been, given how high he was placed ahead of the season. Experts couldn’t stop raving about him. But now, he’s even become a little unreliable. Klubnik had fans cheering for him when he connected with Bryant Wesco Jr. for a 73-yard TD against Georgia Tech. But he also managed to fumble the ball, which led to a field goal for the YellowJackets. Moreover, this was a night where Clemson was looking like the easy winner. Cade Klubnik‘s rather uncharacteristic performance so far has turned the tide against him. “[He] hasn’t even been close to being a good quarterback, much less the best quarterback in college football,” Joel Klatt said in a scathing review of the QB.

But Klatt also highlighted that the whole offense is to blame here. “It cannot just be your wide receiver when you’re 112th in scoring. […] There is something very wrong offensively with Clemson, and it’s cost them now twice,” he added. There has to be talk about Garrett Riley‘s prowess as Clemson’s OC so far. He was touted to have struck a strong dynamic with Cade Klubnik, the most important guy on this side of the ball. Klubnik is instead floundering in the offense more often than not.

The Heisman and a top pick in the NFL draft have become way too distant for Cade Klubnik now. This is not the caliber that makes him worthy of these two feats. Dabo Swinney himself named his star QB as one of the squad’s problems. But it’s not just Klubnik who has to channel improvement in the next games for Clemson; it’s the whole offense. The Tigers have to roll out a less faulty performance on the whole to make sure this downward trend ends in Week 3.