Cade Klubnik feels Clemson is rediscovering spirit and energy ahead of UNC matchup

Klubnik feels Clemson has rediscovered its fight.

Grayson Mann · Staff Writer · Friday, October 03 2025

CLEMSON - The open date was a lot of things for different people.

For some, an early week team meeting put everything out on the table for the team to handle emotionally.

Dabo Swinney said with a bright smile that his soul was cleansed.

For the Tigers' starting quarterback, how did he handle that time off to reflect on Clemson's 1-3 start?

He cleaned his house.

As he puts it, his home was getting dirty over the course of the early season. Klubnik played some music and cleaned up the mess.

In a way, he was doing the same for his mind. It hasn't been an easy season for Klubnik, who has vastly underperformed as Clemson's playoff aspirations have taken a nosedive and won't be resurfacing for quite some time.

Everybody needed a reset during the open date, and like his home, Klubinik's mind needed to clear some of the mess that had accumulated since August 30.

Essentially, a new season has begun for the Tigers, hoping to course correct for the next eight games, and whatever may come with that.

He has acknowledged that the start isn't anything he, nor the fanbase, wanted in 2025.

From here, how does the leader of this roster get everybody fired up to attack a season that's been lost before it could truly start?

Klubnik is trying to remind everyone of why they play the game.

"I think just reminding guys why you do it," Klubnik said. "I think it's huge. Just reminding guys why you do it. What are you here for? The opportunity that we have, we've all dreamed of being here. What's there to be tense about? What's there to hold yourself back from? Just go out and literally look around what a freaking blessing it is to come play football at Clemson, and when you just kind of take a step back instead of so focused on trying to be perfect all the time, take a step back and realize it's the same game you've been playing since you were five."

Certainly, after a start like this, it may be easier said than done.

Clemson's signal caller has faith his team will respond, and believes he's seen that fire at practice during the open date and into preparations against North Carolina.

He's witnessed a competitive spirit be reignited on the field. He's witnessed trash talk and much more.

Klubnik feels Clemson has rediscovered its fight.

"But I feel like we've all been kind of just feeling that the last two weeks, and it's been fun to just kind of feel that fire and energy and competitiveness, whether it's just kind of some smack talk on the field during competitive segments and stuff like that," Klubnik said. "So it's fun, it's been good to see, and just really proud of the steam we're going to keep fighting, like I said, and trying to go play our best game."

Against North Carolina, Clemson is searching for its first P4 victory on the season, and will need that spirit to start this two-game road trip on the right footing.

Klubnik has internalized what has come before, but he's cleaned that up, much like his open date house chores, and is ready for whatever comes next.

"It was good," Klubnik said. "It was just kind of a good mental reset, I think, for me. Something I really needed just kind of flush, but also just kind of bury it, just kind of bury the past, learn from it, but then just kind of move on and realized we got an eight-game season and that's really what matters now."