Clemson's star quarterback Cade Klubnik walks into Williams-Brice Stadium this weekend carrying the full weight of Clemson's season on his shoulder, and he knows it. This rivalry is a pressure cooker that strips a quarterback down to his instincts, his poise, and whatever grit he has left in November. All season long, Clemson had lived and died by his right arm, and Saturday in Columbia will be no different. With the Tigers struggling to find rhythm on the ground, and with injuries across their offense, Klubnik once again becomes both the engine and the insurance policy for Dabo Swinney's squad.
For South Carolina, this game is not just about holding strong on their home turf. It's about forcing Klubnik into the kind of day where the crowd smells blood and the field tilts towards the Gamecocks sideline. And with the Gamecocks riding high off of a win over Coastal last weekend, the matchup will lean heavily on how well Klubnik handles the noise, the pressure, and the inevitable chaos.
Expect Clemson to throw...a lot
Clemson's run game has been inconsistent all year, and the Tigers have no choice but to lean heavily on Klubnik's arm. The ankle sprain and quad issues that slowed him earlier in the season have improved, but he is not the same runner that he was in September. That will push Clemson toward a pass-first script, one that tries to win through timing routes and quick decision making.
South Carolina's pass defense has been a roller coaster. When the Gamecocks create adequate pressure, quarterbacks crumble. However, when they fail to produce, big plays leak through the seams. Expect Clemson to challenge the soft spots with slants, digs, and tempo throws designed to neutralize the pass rush and keep the chains moving.
Decision making determines everything
Klubnik's worst moments this season have come when he is pressed. Forced throws, late balls, risky escapes. And the Gamecocks thrive on takeaways, flipping fields, and suffocating momentum. South Carolina knows how to capitalize on mistakes when they can execute.
If Klubnik can protect the ball, stay disciplined on third down, Clemson can control the pace of the game. But if he plays loose, South Carolina's defense becomes the most dangerous unit in the stadium.
Mobility will be there, but limited
The days of Klubnik ripping off chunk runs are not here. He will move just enough to escape pressure when needed, but Clemson will not design this game around his legs. Instead, the staff will need him to be smart in the pocket, shuffle rather than sprint, and take the throwaway instead of forcing a scramble that could turn into disaster for the Tigers.
Williams-Brice is unforgiving, and every hesitation is an invitation.
Red zone execution will decide the margin
This rivalry has been decided by field position and red zone execution more often than talent. Clemson has been inconsistent inside the twenty, and South Carolina has made a living off of their opponent's mistakes. Clemson cannot settle for field goals in Columbia. Klubnik will have to be sharp on fades, quick outs, and those precise windows of opportunity that can collapse in a heartbeat.
If Clemson stalls in a tight spot, the door swings wide open for a Gamecock surge.
So how will he play?
Clemson will expect him to carry the offense, and he will shoulder it. But the atmosphere in Columbia is much different than Klubnik is used to. Williams-Brice can bend players, amplify mistakes, and it has a way of turning quarterbacks in to legends or lessons.
If the Gamecocks make him hesitate, the Tigers will be staring at a long bus ride home under a sky full of garnet.