What Cade Klubnik said about Clemson vs South Carolina, one play he'd like to forget

CLEMSON — Clemson football quarterback Cade Klubnik hasn't changed how he feels about the play that ended the Tigers' chances vs South Carolina last year.

Trailing 17-10 at home with 16 seconds left Clemson was on South Carolina's 18-yard line. Klubnik drifted right toward a South Carolina defender and forced a pass that went behind running back Phil Mafah, who tipped the ball. Gamecocks linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. dove, intercepted the pass and ended the game to nearly ruin Clemson's College Football Playoff chances.

Almost a year later, Klubnik said he still thinks about that moment and labeled the play as one of the worst in his Clemson career.

"It was a really painful day," Klubnik said Nov. 25. "It was also a great day cause I got told we were going to go play in the ACC championship game."

Klubnik and Clemson (6-5) have a shot at redemption as they face South Carolina (4-7) on Nov. 29 (noon ET, SEC Network) at Williams-Brice Stadium. A win for Clemson ensures the Tigers avoid their worst regular-season finish since 2010 under coach Dabo Swinney when they were 6-6. A South Carolina win would avoid the Gamecocks' worst regular-season finish under coach Shane Beamer.

Klubnik is 1-1 against South Carolina. In two games vs the Gamecocks, he is completing 61.9% of his throws for 380 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions and has rushed for 114 yards and two scores.

Some fans view this year's Palmetto Bowl as a legacy game for Klubnik, who is playing in his final regular-season contest in Week 14. He also led Clemson to two ACC championships and a return to the CFP last season.

Klubnik said this is the best he's moved around since before he twisted his ankle at Boston College in Week 7. He doesn't view the Week 14 game as a legacy-defining one.

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"I don't think so, but I definitely wanna go win," Klubnik said.

Will Cade Klubnik play in Clemson's bowl game?

Clemson earned its sixth win against Furman in Week 13 to be bowl eligible for the 21st year in a row.

Klubnik, who is a senior with no more eligibility remaining, said he plans on playing in Clemson's bowl game and not opting out to prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft.

"Excited to be able to wear that paw two more times," said Klubnik, who entered the season as a projected first-round pick but his stock has taken a hit. "I'm a football player. I love to play football."

Klubnik opting out would allow other Clemson quarterbacks, including Christopher Vizzina and Chris Denson, to receive more game reps. But Klubnik also has two more games to boost his draft stock.

This season, Klubnik is completing 67.2% of his throws for 2,482 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions and has rushed for three scores.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Cade Klubnik on Clemson vs South Carolina, one of his worst plays