The Clemson Tigers may have to pursue an atypical strategy to replace quarterback Cade Klubnik.
Not only were the Clemson Tigers one of the most disappointing teams in college football this season, but they have also essentially wasted the senior campaign of quarterback Cade Klubnik, who will be heading into the 2026 NFL Draft.
Of course, Klubnik himself has played a significant role in Clemson's downfall in 2025, but the Tigers have been thoroughly underwhelming as a whole.
Now, Clemson will have to find a quarterback to replace Klubnik, and head coach Dabo Swinney may have to pursue some rather unorthodox measures — at least by his standards — to find a successor: the transfer portal.
Robert MacRae of The Clemson Insider has revealed that the Tigers could ultimately poach Klubnik's replacement from another team.
"With Cade Klubnik graduating, we can tell you one of the needs for the Tigers is at quarterback, especially if they want to win in September," MacRae wrote. "... Clemson opens next season at LSU, so it will be imperative the Tigers find a good quarterback in the portal who has had success as a starter. As I mentioned in my column, Swinney will have to go to the transfer portal more than he has at any point in the portal and NIL era to rebuild his roster. Perhaps the most critical position for the Tigers will be at quarterback."
Swinney has historically been staunchly against utilizing the portal, but at at this point, he may not have any other choice.
Clemson has qualified for a bowl game this year, but it is just 6-5 heading into its regular-season finale at South Carolina.
It seems pretty clear that the Tigers are starting to fall behind. They have lost four-plus games three years in a row, which comes on the heels of a stretch in which they registered more than two losses just once between 2012 and 2022 (and that was only three losses).
This season will mark also Clemson's worst finish since going 6-7 in 2010, which was Swinney's second season at the helm.
The Tigers won national championships during the 2016-17 and 2018-19 campaigns, but that feels like eons ago.
We'll see if Swinney can right the ship this offseason, even if it may take some drastic changes in overall strategy.