Exclusive: Clemson QB Cade Klubnik talks senior year, NFL and new EA video game
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was thrilled when EA Sports reached out early this year and invited him to a cover shoot for the “College Football 26” video game.
There was only one issue: On the day of the shoot, he had practice.
Some players had off days or got permission from their coaches to miss practice for the cover shoot, which took place in mid-March at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. But Klubnik wasn’t willing to miss a day of Clemson spring ball. He politely declined EA Sports’ request to appear on the game’s deluxe edition cover.
“Whenever I declined it, I honestly thought it was kind of all or nothing,” Klubnik said. “I thought that I wasn’t going to be able to be on the cover.”
One month later, EA Sports representatives followed up. The photo shoot wasn’t a requirement; they still wanted Klubnik on the cover, and they were flexible.
He is, after all, the returning starting senior quarterback for a Clemson team that won the ACC championship and made the College Football Playoff last year, returns 16 of 22 starters, is ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s post-spring Way Too Early Top 25 and has the eighth-best odds to win the 2025 national title under coach Dabo Swinney.
“So we ended up just figuring out something at Clemson, took a couple pics (at the team facility) and got me in there,” Klubnik said. “It was awesome.”
Now he’s one of dozens of current players, former players, coaches, band members and mascots featured on the deluxe edition cover of “College Football 26”.
EA Sports put the beloved video game series previously known as “NCAA Football” on pause for 11 years due to concerns about player likeness and compensation but revived the series four years ago during the NIL era. The first reboot, “College Football 25”, came out last summer. “College Football 26” goes on sale July 10.
“Growing up playing the game, it had always been a dream of mine,” Klubnik said.
During a promotional interview for the game, Klubnik, 21, also touched on his decision to return to Clemson, the Tigers’ 2025 outlook and his go-to Chick-fil-A order. Here are additional highlights from that conversation with The State:
You’re obviously an expert on the ins and outs of Death Valley. What’s it like to see your stadium recreated virtually and do you have a favorite detail?
Cade Klubnik: “Yeah, it’s pretty awesome. They have us hopping off the buses, running down The Hill and it’s pretty crazy, seeing the player’s perspective of looking out into everything. Whenever I got to see that, it’s spot on. It’s literally, exactly what it looks like — having the fans right there next to you and everything.”
“If somebody had never seen a video of (Clemson’s entrance) before, it’s exactly what a video would look like. It’s pretty cool.”
What was your deliberation process after the Texas game about coming back for your senior year? Was there much of a process to it, or was it always Clemson in 2025?
CK: “I definitely wanted to hear where I was going to be at (in the 2025 NFL Draft), especially after taking a step in terms of my production. But I think that there were a couple things that went into me coming back. Where I was draft-wise, I think that my draft process probably would have helped me out a little bit. But I think I just wasn’t where I wanted to be at. And also with what we had coming back, it wasn’t very hard to convince me (to come back to Clemson), I don’t think.”
We hear a lot about tampering and portal issues. That’s not the case for your team. What’s your take on why Clemson is so good at retaining guys?
CK: “I think, for one, it really starts with belief in our coaches and the belief that they have in us. It’s just really, really special. Talking to some guys over the last couple of weeks around the country, you’ll see the news headline that Player X has hit the portal, and you’re like, ‘Dang, why is that guy leaving?’”
“And then you sit down and talk to him, and he’s like, ‘Nah, that coach kicked me off the team — not because I did anything bad, he just doesn’t want me there. And I’m a two-year starter’ … you’ll hear these stories.”
“So guys love it at Clemson. The coaches believe in the players, but also there’s a culture of people who just love it there. And it’s just super, super special.”
You’ve probably seen the ESPN mock draft that has you going No. 1 overall in 2026, and you’ve seen the championship buzz for Clemson. Do you see that as a distraction?
CK: “I don’t really listen to it or care about it because, you know, a year ago, everybody told me that I sucked and that we all were horrible and Coach Swinney needed to get fired, I needed to get fired, Coach Riley needed to get fired.”
“And then this year, they’re saying the opposite. It’s people just flipping back and forth. So, yeah, I’m not really paying attention to that.”
You were just at the Elite 11 camp as a counselor. How’s your summer been?
CK: “Yeah, the Elite 11 was awesome. I learned a lot and spent a lot of time with my quarterback coach, Jordan Palmer, out there. It was really good. I sat down and talked to Jared Goff for a few minutes and just kind of picked his brain on a few things. … I always love watching him play, so it was a really good time.”
“Then I’m heading out to the Manning Passing Academy (which started June 26) … I’m pumped for that. I did both of them last summer, and learned a lot. So excited to go back to Manning this year and just learn some more.”
I saw you at the Clemson Chick-fil-A a while ago. What’s your go-to order?
CK: “My go-to would probably be the 12-count chicken nuggets, fries, an Oreo shake, then a side of the three-piece chicken strips with Chick-fil-A sauce and a little Polynesian sauce. And I normally get a side Powerade. If I’m really hungry, I’ll swap out the strips for a Chick-fil-A sandwich — no pickles, add pepper jack.”
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 7:50 AM.
