The sound of that bus ride home still lingers. A long, miserable haul from Atlanta back to the Clemson Tigers, where every mile stretched the sting of a 34-3 humiliation against Georgia in Week 1. For anyone who’s played sports, there’s a certain pain in a loss like that—the kind that makes you question everything, that gnaws at you during the quiet moments. For the Cade Klubnik and Tigers, it was a harsh reality check, an early-season collapse that could’ve derailed everything. Instead, it became the fuel for a College Football Playoff run. With football on hold, the QB1, rocking #2, spilled some locker room tea about Dabo Swinney and Co.

“Yeah, um… yeah, it s–ked, because losing s–ks,” Klubnik admitted. No sugarcoating, no excuses—just the raw honesty of a quarterback who had to sit with that loss for an entire season. He wasn’t the first Clemson quarterback to feel the weight of expectations. After waiting for his turn behind D.J. Uiagalelei, 2024 was supposed to be his moment. Instead, the opener was a nightmare, and Klubnik had a decision to make.

The senior spoke to the Pure Athletes Podcast to discuss a multitude of topics, including Dabo Swinney’s portal ignorance. “I remember talking to my teammates in the locker room… just brought them all in and I said, you know, guys, I’m showing up tomorrow. I’m showing up on Monday. I believe in this team more than I ever have.” That’s the difference between a leader and a passer—when everything crumbles, one gets back to work.

That commitment is why Cade Klubnik never entered the transfer portal, even as offers rolled in. It’s easy to leave when things don’t go right, but he bought into what Dabo Swinney built at Clemson. The Tigers’ culture isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about loyalty, belief, and the grind. “You still got 349 days that you got to go to work every single day for only 16 opportunities,” Klubnik explained. “And my goal as a leader is to show up the same on Monday, whether win or loss.” That mindset propelled the Tigers through the season, flipping the script from their disastrous start to an ACC Championship and a CFP berth.

But as Clemson fought its way back to national relevance, Dabo Swinney faced mounting criticism for his three-year drought in the transfer portal. While programs like Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State aggressively mined the transfer portal. Swinney stuck to his old-school philosophy—believing that the best talent was already in his locker room.

Cade Klubnik backed his coach’s vision. “I think that he just believes in his guys,” he said. “And that makes… I’ll just say this: College football is a business. Yes, but it’s kind of a family business in the sense that people love to be here. So, sure, we’re not bringing in a lot of guys but we’re also not losing anybody because everybody loves it here. Nobody wants to leave.”

Clemson landed just three transfers in the cycle, prominently Alabama’s No. 1 EDGE, Jeremiah Alexander. They rank 33rd in portal acquisitions with just 5 exits. “Like dude, everybody just loves it here,” Klubnik added. “Like, we haven’t even started practice yet… we’re just doing workouts and meetings, and everybody’s just so happy to be here.” That family-first culture is what coach Swinney has built his program around, but in a rapidly evolving CFB landscape, it’s also his biggest gamble.

Other coaches have adapted, balancing portal additions with homegrown development, but Swinney’s reluctance to dive into the market remains a talking point. “With Coach Swinney, it’s—he’s loyal to the people that are here,” Klubnik explained. “Because his transfer portal, you know, like what he likes to say, is in the locker room.” That loyalty has kept Clemson’s core intact. Despite a few departures, the Tigers have largely avoided the mass exodus seen at other schools.

For now, Klubnik is all in the Swinney project. Unfazed by the number of players coming in or not. When next Monday rolls around, Klubnik will be there, putting in the work. He’s not chasing NIL deals, not looking for a fresh start somewhere else—he’s finishing what he started.

At Clemson, Cade Klubnik’s earning his keep; no handouts

Cade Klubnik made it crystal clear—Dabo Swinney doesn’t do participation trophies. Whether you arrived at Clemson as a five-star recruit or an under-the-radar prospect, if you don’t meet the Tigers’ standard, you won’t be sticking around. As Klubnik put it, Swinney’s message to his players is simple: “You reach that level, or you’re not in the building.”

In today’s transfer portal era, where players bounce around at the first sign of adversity, Clemson has doubled down on its old-school approach. The program has revamped its recruiting strategy and isn’t shy about investing in its coaching staff—shelling out some of the biggest assistant salaries in college football.

Let’s not forget, it wasn’t too long ago that Clemson ruled the sport, winning two national titles in three years. While the Tigers have still been a force, racking up three bowl wins and two CFP trips, that’s not the endgame. Swinney and Klubnik have their sights set on one thing: getting back to the top and hoisting another championship trophy.