CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Quarterback Cade Klubnik, who led Clemson's surprise run to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and College Football Playoff, will return for a fourth and final season with the Tigers rather than declare for the NFL draft.
Klubnik, who announced his decision on social media Monday night, recently finished his second full season as the Tigers' starter. He threw for 36 touchdowns, third-most in the country, against only six interceptions and averaged 260 yards passing per game as the Tigers went 10-4.
“The story isn’t over. See y’all in 2025,” Klubnik wrote on X.
Klubnik is 19-9 as Clemson's starter and was named MVP of the ACC championship game in 2022 and 2024.
Klubnik set an ACC title game record with four touchdown passes in a 34-31 win over SMU. He threw for three more scores in a 38-24 loss to Texas in the first round of the CFP and finished with 336 yards through the air, the most allowed by the Longhorns this season.
He was responsible for 43 touchdowns this season (36 passing, 7 rushing), behind only the 44 by Miami's Cam Ward and Washington State's John Mateer, according to Sportradar.
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FILE - Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, right, talks with quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) during the first half of an NCAA football game against Wake Forest in Greensboro, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.
Ovechkin has 871 goals and needs 24 to set a new record.
Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. He missed 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals' first game out of the Christmas break.
Ovechkin scored a power-play goal in the second period Thursday night against Minnesota, his 28th in 47 games against Marc-Andre Fleury. That's the most of any of the goaltenders Ovechkin has scored on.
Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals and shots on goal.
He also has 132 game-winning goals, four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's mark (135). Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr. Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).
Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.
Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second all time behind Gretzky (894).
Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.
Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.
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Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck as Minnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm (47) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his empty-net goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
