There’s a lot of reasons Clemson is back in the College Football Playoff but the evolution of its quarterback stands above all.

Cade Klubnik had high expectations as a five-star recruit while the bar being set with Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence didn’t make it any easier. His first season as the starter in 2023 included some growing pains but 2024 was the arrival of the man promised.

ESPN’s College GameDay hosts discussed Klubnik and the Tigers’ rise while Pat McAfee took a moment to praise how the junior quarterback has stepped up.

“I think the story of this team and (Desmond Howard) has been talking about it for a few different weeks now. Cade Klubnik has come into who we thought Cade was going to be,” McAfee said. “I remember a few years back whenever Cade busted on the scene for Clemson, this is the next one, this is going to be Trevor Lawrence, this is going to be the guy. It took a little bit but now he is operating at max capacity.”

Klubnik has 40 total touchdowns with five turnovers, leading McAfee to ask “are you kidding me” about the level of football he is playing. The weapons he has outside don’t hurt either as Desmond Howard detailed how the rise of Bryant Wesco Jr. and Antonio Williams side by side as fueled this offensive jump.

When it’s mattered most, Klubnik has stepped up in 2024. Saturday is the biggest occasion to this point and he’ll need to pull off some heroics to take down No. 5 Texas and advance to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.

No. 12 Clemson takes on the Longhorns at 4 p.m., televised on TNT.