Dabo Swinney provides update on Cade Klubnik injury, reveals Clemson's mindset amid underwhelming season

It has been a tough season for Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers. In fact, as it stands, it's a losing season, and that's something this program is not used to. The Tigers are 3-4 right now after their bye week, with five games remaining.

The last time Clemson had a losing season was in 2010, Swinney's second with the program. That season, the Tigers finished 6-7.

That's how tough this season has been for Clemson, and it was made even harder by the loss of starting quarterback Cade Klubnik in the Tigers' last contest. He suffered an injury in Clemson's win over Boston College on Oct. 11, and as such, he had to sit out the Tigers' 35-24 loss to SMU before the bye week.

That time off has apparently done the senior quarterback well. On Wednesday, Swinney was asked in a news conference how much his starting quarterback had practiced lately.

“A good amount,” Swinney said. “He’s getting better each day. Proud of him. Again, we’ll put out a report tomorrow night, but he’s had a good week."

It sounds like Klubnik will be good to go for Clemson's next contest, which is a home game against Duke on Nov. 1.

Clemson Tigers need to maintain a positive mindset moving forward in 2025

Clemson's problems this season have gone far beyond not having Klubnik for a game, though. Even when he has played, the Tigers found themselves on the losing end against opponents like LSU, Georgia Tech and Syracuse. 

A College Football Playoff berth is no longer realistic for Clemson, but Swinney still wants to see his program finish strong. Since the Tigers haven't had a losing season since 2010, so there is a lot on the line over these next few games. It comes down to having the right mindset, and Swinney revealed that he felt his team had a good bye week in that regard.

“We’re ready to get back into the fight around here. Last week was a great week, great prep. I’m proud of the guys and how they got back to work,” Swinney said. 

After Duke comes Florida State, No. 16 Louisville, Furman and South Carolina. The way things have gone for Clemson this season, only the game against Furman seems like a guaranteed win looking ahead. At this juncture, though, Clemson can't afford to look ahead. The Tigers simply have to take it a game at a time and hope that positive results follow their positive mindset.

"We’ve got 33 days left in our season. It’s crazy, and it has flown by," Swinney said. "I’m thankful that we still have an opportunity to go compete and be the best version of ourselves and have the best possible finish we can have.”