Why insider views this ACC signal-caller as most solidified QB in the country

Klubnik, who is tied for the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy (+900) with LSU's Garrett Nussmeier according to FanDuel, passed for a career-high 3,639 yards last season and nearly doubled his TD throws from 19 to 36 while only accounting for six interceptions. Although his completion percentage (63.4%) dipped from 63.9% in 2023, Yates views him as someone who played much better than that would suggest.

"I see a more accurate thrower than that number would suggest," Yates said. "On top of that, this guy is the real deal athletically. Klubnik rushed for nearly 500 yards last season. Keep in mind for those that don't know this in college football, but quarterbacks get negative yards for sacks taken in terms of rushing totals, so that number could have been well close to 600 yards rushing last season. For Cade Klubnik, very good leader, very good processor as well. They've got a big test this upcoming weekend against LSU, but I expect them to handle business in a top-10 matchup, which should kickoff to a potentially very, very strong season for a loaded Clemson roster."

Clemson is still seeking to regain its dominance from the 2010s, when it went 117-23, achieving the second-most wins (behind Alabama) and the third-best win percentage, behind only the Crimson Tide and Ohio State.

Head coach Dabo Swinney led Clemson to a pair of national titles (2016, 2018) in that span. Since 2020, however, Clemson has only made two College Football Playoff appearances and has lost three or more games in each of the last four seasons.

As the only team in the country returning at least 80% of its overall production from last season, Clemson has title aspirations once again. SEC Network Analyst Paul Finebaum believes it has returned to its former glory and said, "Clemson's one of my top two or three picks right now."

If Clemson gets past LSU in the opener, it is only scheduled to face two other ranked teams (No. 16 SMU and No. 13 South Carolina) for the rest of the season. Barring an unforeseen setback, everything seems to be aligning for Clemson to reassert itself as a national championship contender.