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Why Clemson football quarterback Cade Klubnik must fix turnovers to save Tigers' season
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- Why Clemson football quarterback Cade Klubnik must fix turnovers to save Tigers' season
CLEMSON — Clemson football 's offense was better in Week 3, but quarterback Cade Klubnik has to clean up his costly turnovers.
He committed two turnovers as Clemson (1-2, 0-1 ACC) was upset 24-21 by No. 19 Georgia Tech (3-0, 1-0) on Sept. 13 at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. Clemson is unranked in the coaches poll , receiving 116 votes to unofficially be ranked at No. 29, after its second upset loss in three weeks.
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Klubnik fumbled on a running play in the first quarter and threw a goal-line interception in the third. He has committed a turnover in each game this season and has four total. He had only seven turnovers in 2024.
"Those are two plays I want back," Klubnik said.
Georgia Tech scored only three points from Clemson's turnovers, but that was the difference in the game. Klubnik's fumble happened on the opening drive of the game, and the Yellow Jackets turned it into a 40-yard field goal.
Georgia Tech didn't score after Klubnik's third-quarter interception, but the turnover prevented Clemson from scoring a touchdown or kicking a field goal. He was eyeing wide receiver T.J. Moore on a slant route, but a Georgia Tech defender watched him and then leaped to intercept the pass and return it for 45 yards.
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Klubnik played well, going 15-for-26 passing for 207 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 62 yards on 17 carries. Running back Adam Randall , a former wide receiver, also displayed his impressive growth, rushing for 80 yards and a touchdown. However, Klubnik's turnovers are hurting Clemson's offense.
"The story of the game: we got two turnovers, and they got three points off of two turnovers," coach Dabo Swinney said. "That is the difference in the game."
Klubnik has become a turnover machine through three weeks, tying for the most interceptions thrown by an ACC quarterback this season. Against LSU in Week 1, Klubnik threw a critical interception in the third quarter. In Week 2 against Troy, a Group of Five program, he threw an interception returned for a touchdown after the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage, causing Clesmon to trail 16-0 in the second quarter.
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His play is concerning for a third-year starter with the same offensive coordinator and having most of his skill-position players from last season. Wide receiver Antonio Williams has been out with a hamstring injury that he suffered in the first quarter against LSU, but Clemson still boasts elite talent for Klubnik to thrive.
Klubnik entered the season as a Heisman Trophy contender and a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was also among multiple Clemson players who returned for another season instead of going to the NFL. Yet, his ball-security problems have contributed to Clemson's worst start since 2014 and has damaged the Tigers' College Football Playoff hopes.
"We've won a bunch of close games around here, and right now, we're finding a way to not win these games," Swinney said.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: What Cade Klubnik needs to do to save Tigers' season
