Clemson heads into its clash against Georgia Tech tomorrow facing questions about its offensive consistency. The Tigers have struggled to establish rhythm on that side of the ball, and Alabama legend Nick Saban recently broke down why.
His analysis pointed to a combination of injury issues, offensive line struggles, and the pressure on quarterback Cade Klubnik. One of the biggest blows for Clemson has been the absence of Antonio Williams.
The standout wide receiver went down with a hamstring injury in the season opener against LSU and has been sidelined since. Williams was Clemson’s most reliable target last year, and without him, the passing game has lost a dynamic playmaker. His status remains uncertain heading into the Georgia Tech matchup.
Saban outlined that the offensive line has been a persistent issue, failing to protect Klubnik and often leaving him scrambling to make plays under heavy duress.
“The quarterback has been under duress the whole season,” Saban SAID. “In the LSU game, this guy was running for his life. And it affected them.”
Saban wasn’t downplaying Klubnik’s impact or talent; he simply stated that the team needs to do better to help him.
“Klubnik is a really good player that hasn’t had an opportunity to play very effectively, and I think its because of the pressure he’s getting,” Saban added. “So, they need to fix their situation in the offensive line.”
“In my opinion the major issue that Clemson has had is their offensive line hasn’t performed very well..
They need to fix that because Cade Klubnik has been under a lot of pressure” ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/YZHYfjtoOp
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 12, 2025
This is exactly where Georgia Tech could find an opening. Defensive pressure has been a key to slowing down Clemson this season. With the offensive line failing to hold up, they will likely look to test Klubnik.
Other than that, Saban believes Clemson has a good team. He praised their defensive prowess and advised Clemson to get its offense in order.
Nick Saban Reveals What He Misses About Coaching
Saban started coaching in 1973 when he joined Kent State as a graduate assistant. That marked the beginning of a journey that lasted 50 years. In 2007, he joined Alabama and made the Crimson Tide one of the most revered teams in the country.
In 2023, Saban decided to step away from the game and get into broadcasting. At the age of 73, he is very happy with what he’s doing in the new chapter of his life. However, there are parts of his coaching job that he still misses.
“I miss the relationships with the players, development, and I loved seeing guys give themselves a better chance to be successful in life because of the leadership and the influence you might’ve had on them,” Saban said.
“I miss the relationships with the players and I loved seeing guys give themselves a better chance to be successful in life..
I miss that a little bit but I really enjoy what I’m doing now” ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/5925u0TGYM
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 12, 2025
Despite that, he stated that he is now enjoying a better quality of life. He’s still involved with the sport, but he no longer has the pressure and responsibilities of a program and has to be answerable to fans and media.
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