Cade Klubnik Named Heisman Favorite But History Says He Won't Win
Cade Klubnik enters his senior year as one of the most talked-about players in college football. With national analysts like Joel Klatt naming him the No. 1 quarterback in the country and ESPN's Chris Low calling him the early Heisman favorite, expectations are sky-high.
Klubnik, now a polished veteran under offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, is coming off a strong campaign and is projected by some outlets as the potential No. 1 overall pick in next year's NFL Draft.
And yet, history suggests it may not matter.
Clemson has been in this position before. Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence-two of the most iconic quarterbacks in school history-both led the Tigers to national championship glory. Both were Heisman finalists.
Neither won the award. Watson finished second in 2016 behind Lamar Jackson, and Lawrence was the runner-up in 2020, finishing behind Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Even with 222 first-place votes and over 1,100 total points, Lawrence couldn't secure the trophy, despite being arguably the most complete quarterback prospect in the modern era. If neither of those generational talents could break through the Heisman ceiling, Klubnik faces an uphill battle regardless of how good Clemson looks this fall.
That's especially true in today's landscape, where offseason hype is as loud as ever. Coming out of spring, the buzz around Clemson is building. The Tigers are loaded with talent, especially at wide receiver-many believe this is the deepest and most skilled receiver room in the country. The offensive line has improved. Klubnik has grown each year under Riley's system. On paper, the pieces are there.
But this is also the season of speculation, where media noise can turn into "rat poison," as some coaches like to call it. We're in that awkward stretch between spring football and fall camp when national narratives start to form, often well before teams have truly shown who they are. It's easy to crown a favorite in May. It's much harder to live up to that billing come October and November.
Clemson is equipping itself to make a serious run, but there are still questions to answer-about the run game, defensive depth, and how Klubnik handles the pressure of expectation. Until the Tigers hit the field in the fall, we won't truly know how good they are or how realistic Klubnik's Heisman chances really are.
For now, Klubnik's name is rightfully in the conversation. But if Clemson's past is any indication, it may take more than excellence-and even more than a national title-for the Heisman to finally find its way to Death Valley.
Related: Clemson vs. South Carolina Rivalry Called 'Laughably One-Sided' by National Outlet
Related: Clemson Surging in Battle With Georgia, Ohio State for Elite 2026 LB
Related: Cam Cannarella's ACC Tournament Performance Could Boost 2025 MLB Draft Stock
Copyright 2025 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
SMU Surges to No. 14 in ESPN's Future Power Rankings
SMU Surges to No. 14 in ESPN's Future Power Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The days of SMU being a college football afterthought are over. Following a headline-grabbing 2024 season that saw the Mustangs storm into the ACC, make it to the conference title, and crash the College Football Playoff, ESPN's Future Power Rankings now place SMU at No. 14 nationally, a dramatic rise from their No. 22 spot just a year ago. Advertisement This ranking isn't just a pat on the back. It's a statement: SMU's resurgence is real, and its foundation is strong enough to last. At the center of SMU's ascension is redshirt junior Kevin Jennings, who returns for a possible two more seasons. While his CFP debut against Penn State was rocky, throwing three interceptions, his overall numbers paint a different picture: 3,245 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and five rushing scores in 2024. ESPN cites the 'very likely' stability of Jennings at quarterback through 2026 as a major reason for the Mustangs' rise. With offensive coordinator Casey Woods and quarterbacks coach D'Eriq King returning, the continuity around Jennings is a rare asset in today's transfer-heavy landscape. Though SMU's offense grabs the headlines, their defensive line is quietly elite. Returning edge rushers Cameron Robertson and Isaiah Smith combined for 14 sacks and 19 tackles for loss in 2024, while Purdue transfer Jeffrey M'Ba brings SEC size and experience to the interior. Advertisement The offensive line is just as formidable. PJ Williams and Logan Parr, both third-team All-ACC selections, return alongside Savion Byrd, with Arkansas transfer Addison Nichols adding depth. Even with the loss of elite quarterback recruit Keelon Russell to Alabama, SMU reeled in ESPN's No. 30 recruiting class for 2025. Coach Rhett Lashlee's staff has balanced retention and portal additions better than most Power Four programs, reinforcing weak spots without overhauling the core. Defensively, All-ACC safety Isaiah Nwokobia and playmaker Ahmaad Moses lead a unit filled with future pros. ESPN noted that while SMU lost some defensive depth, they have 'others ready for bigger roles.' With ACC competition leveling up and College Football Playoff expansion rewarding depth and consistency, SMU is built to thrive. The only looming question: Can the Mustangs keep Lashlee long-term, as SEC programs circle? Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee looks Miron-Imagn Images One thing is certain, SMU isn't just participating in the Power Four era. They're pushing to lead it. Advertisement Mustang fans, it's time to lean in. The next two seasons could define the modern identity of SMU football. Don't miss a moment, because for the first time in decades, the nation is watching Dallas. Related: Former NFL Kicker and SMU Great Unexpectedly Dies at 65 Related: SMU's Rhett Lashlee Admits the College Football Playoff Made an Error This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Why Georgia Tech Could Be the ACC's Dark Horse in 2025
Why Georgia Tech Could Be the ACC's Dark Horse in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Georgia Tech fans have been waiting for a season like this. One full of hope, momentum, and belief. But it's not just Yellow Jackets faithful who are sensing a shift on The Flats. Advertisement According to Athlon Sports' College Football 2025 Previewed, several anonymous ACC coaches have singled out Georgia Tech as a team to watch this fall. And one coach, in particular, pulled no punches: 'They've got two really bright, really promising coordinators who will be head coaches one day,' the coach said. 'Faulkner really worked some magic with [Haynes] King, and later in the season they really figured it out in the run game.' It's high praise for a program that only recently clawed out of a five-year bowl drought. Under third-year head coach Brent Key, Georgia Tech finished the 2024 season 7-6, their first winning record since 2018. But the buzz this offseason is about more than wins and losses. It's about culture and coaching. OC Buster Faulkner enters Year 2 after transforming Texas A&M transfer Haynes King into one of the ACC's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. King threw for 2,114 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 587 yards and 11 scores on the ground, a total of 2,701 yards and 25 TDs. Advertisement His development down the stretch was noticeable. Georgia Tech averaged 33.5 points over its final four games, a far cry from the offensive struggles of past seasons. Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key looks on against Florida State at Aviva Stadium.© Tom Maher/INPHO via USA TODAY Sports Faulkner's ability to tailor schemes around King's strengths, and lean into a physical ground game drew specific praise from ACC insiders. While Faulkner's rise is no secret, new DC Blake Gideon might be the more intriguing addition. After four years coaching safeties at Texas and earning a promotion to associate head coach in 2024, Gideon joins Georgia Tech with big expectations, despite never calling a defense at the collegiate level. Advertisement 'Gideon is a really big hire for them,' said another ACC coach. 'They're decent, probably best on the defensive line, so how they adjust to a new system will be the thing to watch.' Key tapped into his Alabama coaching tree to lure Gideon from Steve Sarkisian's staff, a move that speaks volumes about the program's rising clout and Key's growing influence. More than anything, the 2025 Yellow Jackets reflect their head coach's no-nonsense, offensive line-driven personality. 'This is an O-lineman's culture, and they really embrace contact and physicality,' another anonymous coach told Athlon. Added a fourth coach: 'This is Key's team now, and they're hard-nosed and mean.' Advertisement For Georgia Tech fans, that's music to their ears. With a potent offense, a revamped defense, and a head coach who's reshaping the culture, Georgia Tech isn't just trying to compete, they're aiming to contend. The ACC better be ready. Related: Georgia Tech Lands Twin OL Commits in 2026 Recruiting Win Related: Georgia Tech Football's CFP Odds Leaves Fans in Disbelief This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Georgia Tech Leaps Into ESPN's Future College Football Power Rankings
Georgia Tech Leaps Into ESPN's Future College Football Power Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A sleeping giant may be stirring on North Avenue. For the first time in recent memory, Georgia Tech has cracked ESPN's College Football Future Power Rankings, coming in at No. 31, a remarkable leap for a program left off the list entirely in past years. Advertisement While they're not yet among the sport's elite, this appearance marks a pivotal turning point for the Yellow Jackets as they gear up for 2025 and 2026 with rising optimism, a strengthened roster, and growing national respect. It starts under center. Haynes King, returning for his final year, has been the program's steadying force, quietly becoming one of the ACC's most efficient signal callers. In 2024, King completed 72.9% of his passes for 2,114 yards with just two interceptions in 269 attempts, a stunning turnaround from his earlier years. While ESPN flags the long-term quarterback situation as uncertain beyond King, there's quiet confidence in redshirt freshman Aaron Philo, who could emerge with development. Head coach Brent Key, a former Tech offensive lineman, has engineered this turnaround the way linemen do, with grit in the trenches. The Jackets return one of the nation's top guard duos in Keylan Rutledge (2024 first-team All-ACC) and Joe Fusile, and boast Ethan Mackenny, a rising star who started eight games at left tackle as a true freshman. Advertisement On the defensive front, Jordan van den Berg leads a revamped line bolstered by transfers Brayden Manley (Mercer) and Akelo Stone (Ole Miss). Roster management remains a point of strength under Key. Despite losing playmaker Eric Singleton Jr. and linebacker Romello Height, Tech held firm to its offensive nucleus: King, Jamal Haynes, Malik Rutherford, and others who powered the team to wins over ranked competition in 2024. Key's recruiting footprint is growing fast. Georgia Tech's 2025 class is ranked No. 19 nationally, up from No. 34 in 2024, showcasing momentum that fans haven't seen in years. With Buster Faulkner returning as offensive coordinator, widely praised for his creativity, Tech's offense is poised to take another step. On defense, Blake Gideon steps into his first coordinator role, a high-stakes move that could define the Jackets' ability to sustain success. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brent Key on the sideline against the Louisville Cardinals in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Landing at No. 31 may not make headlines in Tuscaloosa or Columbus, but for Georgia Tech fans, it means something real is building. A modern offense. A homegrown coach. A rising recruiting profile. And finally, national recognition from ESPN. Advertisement It's not just a ranking. It's validation. And it's only the beginning. Related: Why Georgia Tech Could Be the ACC's Dark Horse in 2025 Related: Georgia Tech Football's CFP Odds Leaves Fans in Disbelief This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
