The latest on Clemson QB Cade Klubnik’s injury status before SMU game
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has spent much of this week talking about quarterback Cade Klubnik’s injury status. Now, there’s an official designation.
The Tigers listed Klubnik as questionable on their first mandatory ACC availability report of the week, which was released Thursday ahead of Clemson’s conference game against SMU on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Clemson offensive lineman Tristan Leigh also is listed as questionable.
The ACC defines its “Questionable” status as “Uncertain to play; less than 50% chance.” In Clemson’s brief history of complying with ACC availability reports (instituted for this season), no player listed as questionable has played that week.
Klubnik, who has started 34 consecutive games at quarterback for Clemson dating back to the 2022 Orange Bowl, left last week’s road win at Boston College after rolling his ankle on a rushing play near the goal line late in the third quarter.
Klubnik was replaced by backup quarterback Christopher Vizzina and did not return. Swinney said postgame that while Klubnik would be “sore,” he expected the senoir QB to play against SMU. He reiterated that sentiment Tuesday.
But Klubnik’s injury report status indicates he’s in danger of missing his first ever game for Clemson for injury reasons. Earlier Thursday, the website TigerIllustrated.com reported there was “significant concern” among Clemson’s staff that Klubnik wouldn’t be able to play vs. SMU.
Swinney said Wednesday that backup quarterback Vizzina and third-string quarterback Trent Pearman have “took a ton of work (in practice) and done a great job” this week as Klubnik’s been limited.
He also confirmed that if Klubnik cannot play, Clemson would start Vizzina, a redshirt sophomore and former four-star recruit. It would be Vizzina’s first career start after backing up Klubnik for three seasons.
“If Cade can’t go, CV’s the guy for sure and you’ve got to go get it done,” Swinney said Wednesday. “We’ve got confidence that he (Vizzina) could.”
Clemson must provide another ACC availability report at 8 p.m. Friday and a final availability report two hours before kickoff Saturday (1:30 p.m.). That gameday availability report is a little different than the midweek reports, as schools must classify players as “available,” “game-time decision” or “out.”
Klubnik’s injury status caused Clemson, which opened as an 11.5-point favorite in most major sportsbooks, to drop down to a consensus 5.5-point favorite as of Thursday night, according to VegasInsider.com.
Outside of Vizzina and Pearman, Clemson has two other scholarship QBs on its roster: true freshman Chris Denson and sixth-year Hunter Helms, who is serving as a player-coach but has maintained his eligibility as an emergency option.
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 8:04 PM.
