A fake car accident story involving Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik went viral on social media on August 24, 2025. The report worried thousands of fans and upset his family before his mother and reporters quickly debunked it.
Klubnik is Clemson’s star quarterback and a leading 2025 Heisman Trophy candidate. The senior threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns last season while leading the Tigers to the ACC Championship and College Football Playoff.
How Did the False Story Start and Spread?
The fake accident rumors originated from a fabricated post on Tigernet.com by user “JacobyMoore”. The user appeared to be a South Carolina fan trolling the Clemson message board.
The original Tigernet post claimed: “My brother is a first responder near the University and, well about 30 mins ago now, someone Tboned a car at an intersection and my brother just told me that it is Kade Klubnik inside the car that got Tboned and he couldnt move his arm and shoulder well when they got there.”
🚨BREAKING 🚨
Sources with knowledge tell MBG that #Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has been injured in a car accident. More to come… pic.twitter.com/hQTMFWMgqY— Message Board Geniuses (@BoardGeniuses) August 25, 2025
The false information spread rapidly across Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram. Fans expressed genuine concern and prayers for the quarterback, and it became one of the most discussed college football topics on social media.
Who Shut Down the Rumors?
When contacted by CBS Sports, Cade’s mother, Kim Klubnik, provided the most authoritative debunking. She stated emphatically, “Thankfully, it is fake news. Cade is fine!”
Kim expressed the emotional toll on the family. She said, “My heart has not stopped racing since someone shared the story with me. How can someone be so cruel? How can it be OK to spread rumors like this?”
Several sports journalists worked to verify and debunk the story. An LSU reporter, Preston Guy, confirmed on social media that the rumors were “fabricated.” The original Tigernet post was deleted after being identified as a troll post.
How Have Rumors Plagued College Football?
This incident wasn’t isolated in college football. Weeks earlier, a similar false rumor circulated about LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. That fabricated story falsely claimed he suffered a torn ACL during practice.
These incidents highlight a troubling pattern of fake injury rumors targeting high-profile quarterbacks. The rumors appear designed to create panic among fan bases and generate viral engagement.
The false Klubnik story had real consequences beyond social media chatter. It required resources from multiple sports outlets to investigate and debunk. Most importantly, it caused genuine emotional distress to his family.
However, fans don’t need to worry about seeing Klubnik play. Clemson opens the 2025 season on Saturday, August 30, when they host LSU at Memorial Stadium. The matchup features two Heisman Trophy candidates, with Garrett Nussmeier of LSU being the early Las Vegas favorite and Klubnik only slightly behind him.