Hoops Hype: Clemson’s Non-Conference Schedule Gets Beefed Up
Clemson basketball fans won’t have to wait long to see their Tigers in action come November. After the ACC slate dropped, the program announced two new non-conference foes: North Dakota arrives at Littlejohn Coliseum on November 9, marking Clemson’s first meeting with a Dakotan school, and on December 1 the Tigers host Auburn in the ACC/SEC Challenge—a familiar crossover that dates back to their 2018 NCAA Tournament showdown. These additions push Clemson’s confirmed non-conference slate to 10 of 14 games, including marquee tournaments like the Maui Invitational (featuring teams such as Arizona, BYU, Providence and others) and home‐and‐home series with Georgetown and Cincinnati. The early-season Bison test and the Auburn rematch promise a blend of “gettable” wins and high‐profile matchups before Panthers and Gamecocks enter the picture.
Move over “easy bake oven” schedule jokes—Clemson’s non-conference menu is now a nine-course meal with a side of legit competition. Coach Brad Brownell clearly scrolled through the “Opponents” tab on his fantasy football app and thought, “Let’s throw in a North Dakota squad that’s never heard of y’all,” just so he can say his team made history. Auburn, meanwhile, is basically the ex who still calls—familiar but always good for an upset or two. And let’s not forget the Maui Invitational, where the Tigers will pretend they’re on vacation while battling Arizona, BYU, and Providence, reminding everyone that they can pack their bags and still pack a punch. It’s like Clemson’s trying to win the college basketball travel brochure award—sun, sand, and scrambling for rebounds.
QB Faceoff: Rookie Cade Klubnik Scrambles for Backup Job
Just weeks after the Jets selected former Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Sports Illustrated ranked him 32nd among NFL backup QBs. Despite landing at the bottom, Klubnik’s impressive passing stats at Clemson—10,123 yards and 73 touchdowns—show his talent is far from negligible. He now competes with veteran Bailey Zappe and last season’s rookie Brady Cook for the No. 2 QB spot behind Geno Smith. Head coach Aaron Glenn has labeled it an “open competition,” and SI’s Gilberto Manzano predicts Klubnik will win the role, citing praise from Smith and a flawless 12-for-12 performance in recent 7-on-7 drills. While he may be the “rookie under study,” the trajectory suggests he could leapfrog his peers before the season starts.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the human Q-tip: overachieving, underappreciated, and stuffed into the smallest roster slot imaginable. The New York Jets, in a moment of pure experimental genius, decided to toss a fourth-round college freshman into the backup grinder and then wonder aloud why he’s still learning the difference between a blitz and a busy signal. Yet here he is, batting away veteran wisdom like rogue flies at a picnic. Coaches say it’s a fair fight—just one where a seasoned pro and a second-year quarterback politely line up to let a fresh-faced kid show off. It’s equal parts David and Goliath and Excel spreadsheet gone wild. All hail the Glide of the Clyde, Cade Klubnik—proving once again that football’s greatest play is “Who’s the backup?”.
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