The 2025 season has gone as poorly as possible for the Clemson Tigers. After entering the year as national title contenders, the Tigers sit at 3-3 through six games and have yet to beat a ranked opponent.
To make matters worse, quarterback Cade Klubnik is listed as doubtful for Clemson’s Week 8 matchup with SMU, which likely means backup Christopher Vizzina will get the start. Here’s everything to know about the Tigers’ new QB1.
Who is Christopher Vizzina?
Klubnik has not been officially ruled out for Clemson’s upcoming game against SMU. However, On3’s Pete Nakos reported Thursday that there is “significant concern” he won’t play after suffering an ankle sprain in the Tigers’ Week 7 win over Boston College.
Nakos added that with Klubnik dealing with the injury, Vizzina has taken most of the first-team reps in practice this week and is expected to start against the Mustangs.
Sources have told @On3sports that backup Christopher Vizzina has taken most of the first-team reps to this point in the week. Former four-star recruit. https://t.co/J7QAmd7Iby
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) October 16, 2025
Vizzina was a member of Clemson’s 2023 recruiting class from Briarwood Christian High School in Birmingham, Alabama. 247Sports’ composite rankings listed him as a four-star recruit, the No. 75 player nationally, the No. 6 quarterback, and the No. 9 player from Alabama.
He redshirted his freshman year at Clemson in 2023 and has served as Klubnik’s backup during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Last year, he appeared in seven games, completing 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards while adding 68 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
This season, Vizzina has played in three games, completing seven of 14 passes for 37 yards with one interception. If Klubnik can’t go against SMU, Vizzina will make the first start of his college career on Saturday.
How Will Clemson’s Offense Look With Vizzina?
The Tigers’ offense has been solid this season, ranking 39th nationally according to PFSN’s CFB OFFi metric. Klubnik entered the year as a potential Heisman candidate and first-round draft pick but has struggled, ranking just 70th among quarterbacks in PFSN’s CFB QBi metric.
It’s hard to say that Vizzina can outperform Klubnik in his first college start, but he can keep the offense moving. He possesses a skill set similar to Klubnik’s, with a strong arm and enough mobility to make plays on the ground.
The young quarterback hasn’t yet proven himself, but he was a highly touted high school prospect for a reason and has the talent to compete at the Power Four level.
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney will likely ease him into the game, focusing on quick passes and leaning on the running game to help Vizzina settle in early.
Barring any significant changes to Klubnik’s health, Vizzina is expected to make his first start on Saturday, October 18, against SMU. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET with coverage on the ACC Network.