Cade Klubnik knew he had to get out of bounds to stop the clock, but he also needed to make something happen fast. Clemson was behind, and with no timeouts left, the junior quarterback broke into the open field on a designed run, heading for the sideline.
But as he approached the edge, wide receiver T.J. Moore made a key block that opened up a clear path for Klubnik. Seeing the opportunity, Klubnik changed direction and sprinted down the field, cutting inside for a 50-yard touchdown with 1:16 left, giving Clemson a 24-20 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday.
“It doesn’t feel real in a moment like that,” said Klubnik. “You’re just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m loose.’ Those last 15-20 yards was a crazy feeling for sure.”
It was a play Clemson practices every week: a late-game situation where a touchdown wins it. Head coach Dabo Swinney pointed out that it wasn’t the first time Klubnik had used his legs to finish a drive like that.
“He’s just a relentless competitor,” Swinney said. “He’s got a big heart on him. It was pretty special.”
Klubnik’s touchdown was critical for Clemson’s chances to reach the ACC title game. The Tigers (8-2, 7-1 ACC) still need Miami (No. 12) to lose one of its final two games or SMU (No. 14) to drop its last two to make it to the championship in Charlotte on December 7.
Even if they fall short of that goal, Swinney believes this season has been a step forward after a 4-4 conference record last year. When asked if Clemson deserves to be in the College Football Playoff conversation, Swinney pointed to his team’s perfect road record and its history of playoff success. “I think we’ve got a team that’s really kind of just finding their way right now,” he said.
Despite facing challenges, like injuries to the offensive line, having Klubnik at quarterback has been a huge advantage. He threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns, including one to Antonio Williams, who set career highs with 13 catches for 149 yards. On defense, sophomore T.J. Parker tied a school record with four of Clemson’s eight sacks.
However, Clemson needed Klubnik’s heroics after Pitt (7-3, 3-3) came back in the second half. The Panthers erased a 10-point deficit and took the lead with a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Nate Yarnell to Gavin Bartholomew and a 47-yard field goal by Ben Sauls. Yarnell threw for 350 yards but was intercepted on his final pass attempt as Clemson’s Khalil Barnes picked off the ball just short of the goal line as time expired.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi praised Yarnell’s performance but expressed frustration with the offensive line’s play. “I don’t like the eight sacks. Is that on him? Is that on the O-line?” Narduzzi asked.
After starting 7-0, Pitt has now lost three straight games, and with the season winding down, they will need to find answers. Running back Desmond Reid, who had 176 total yards, helped the Panthers move into position late, but the defense couldn’t hold off Klubnik and Clemson.
“We never flinched,” Klubnik said. “You know (time is running out but) we knew what we could do. We just had to go do it.”
