According to ESPN, people inside college football believe that Clemson’s Cade Klubnik is the best signal caller in the sport.

ESPN used the help of more than a dozen coaches and defensive coordinators to rank the top 15 quarterbacks in college football this year (subscription required).

Coming off a breakout 2024 campaign, Klubnik landed at No. 1 in the ESPN ranking.

As a junior last season, Klubnik completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns with six interceptions, while rushing for 463 yards and seven more scores on the ground.

The former five-star prospect from Texas was one of two quarterbacks in the country to throw for more than 3,500 yards and run for 400 last season. Klubnik also finished second nationally in total touchdowns with 43. He was third nationally in touchdown passes with 36, and his six interceptions were second fewest among quarterbacks who threw 28 or more touchdown passes in 2024.

Here’s what ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg wrote about why Klubnik is ranked No. 1 on the list:

Along with (Penn State’s Drew) Allar, Klubnik enters the fall with a ton of key boxes checked, including his first CFP appearance at Clemson. His dramatic improvement last fall went a bit under the radar nationally after a season-opening loss to Georgia and an early November loss to Louisville, but Klubnik’s numbers really pop. He had 17 more touchdown passes than the 2023 season, cut his interceptions total by three despite 32 more pass attempts, and again connected on more than 63% of his attempts. He had eight games with more than 250 passing yards, while reaching 30 yards in nine games. Klubnik recorded the second-highest passing touchdowns total in team history, and will be working with coordinator Garrett Riley for the third straight season.

ACC coaches spoke highly of Klubnik, according to the ESPN article:

“He’s got a ton of experience, so I think he’ll do an excellent job,” an ACC coach said. “Just like any quarterback, he’s been through the struggles, the ups and downs. I thought he finished well and played well for the most part. He’s got a good team around him.”

“He’s played a lot,” one coach said. “I don’t know if he’s an NFL guy, or a first- and second-rounder. But he’s gotten a lot better decision-making-wise.”

“He’s one of the most improved passers in the country,” an ACC defensive coordinator added. “I know he was gritty, a competitor, but the passing really got better last year.”

Klubnik’s performance last season guided the Tigers back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020. He also led Clemson to another ACC Championship, while he earned his second MVP award in the title game, becoming only the third player ever to win multiple ACC Championship Game MVP honors.

Klubnik will enter the 2025 season having thrown for 7,180 yards with 57 touchdowns and 18 interceptions over 37 games (28 starts) from 2022-24. He has also rushed for 784 yards and 13 touchdowns on 286 rushing attempts over his first three seasons.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder will enter his senior campaign ranking in the top five in Clemson history in nearly every passing category, including passing touchdowns (fourth), passing yards (fourth), passing attempts (fourth) and completions (fifth), while he will enter the year ranked fifth in career touchdown responsibility and sixth in yards of total offense.

Penn State’s Drew Allar, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Oklahoma’s John Mateer and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers rounded out the top five of the ESPN quarterback rankings.

Along with Klubnik, other ACC signal callers that made the list include Miami’s Carson Beck (No. 7), Georgia Tech’s Haynes King (No. 9), SMU’s Kevin Jennings (No. 11) and Duke’s Darian Mensah (No. 15).

Clemson is slated to face five of the aforementioned QBs during the 2025 season — LSU’s Nussmeier, South Carolina’s Sellers, Georgia Tech’s King, SMU’s Jennings and Duke’s Mensah.