Clemson Looks to Finish On a High Note in Pinstripe Bowl

Clemson will be taking the trip to New York this week to prepare for its Pinstripe Bowl game on Saturday. It’s not the postseason game the Tigers envisioned themselves in. They still get a chance to end the season on a high note in December, though. They will face Penn State in Yankee Stadium for the game.

This was a matchup many predicted would be part of the college football playoffs this year. Both teams hit quite a few bumps in the road this season and could not meet their expectations. Late-season runs helped both groups reach bowl eligibility, though, giving us the opportunity to still see these two great programs face off.

Clemson will be entering this game with a somewhat depleted roster. Over 20 Tigers will not play in this game. The opt-outs come from a mix of players declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, injuries, and a few guys entering the transfer portal.

The only key player missing from the game due to the portal is safety Khalil Barnes. The writing has been on the wall for the last few weeks of the regular season that Barnes’ tenure in Clemson was ending. It leaves a void in a position that is in desperate need of some depth, though. Losing a three-year starter is not ideal for Tom Allen’s defense.

Allen’s unit will be missing impact players at every level. Cornerback Avieon Terrell, as well as defensive linemen Peter Woods, TJ Parker, and DeMonte Capehart, have all declared for the NFL Draft. Along with three starting defensive linemen sitting out, so is linebacker Wade Woodaz. He has to get shoulder surgery for an injury he suffered against South Carolina.

On the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver Antonio Williams will be joining Terrell, Woods, Parker, and Capehart in getting ready for the draft. He’s the only true impact player missing on that unit outside of Bryant Wesco, who’s been out since his injury against Boston College. Both quarterback Cade Klubnik and running back Adam Randall will play in the Pinstripe Bowl. They will have to ensure they keep the ball moving to take pressure off the defense.

Clemson and Penn State have previously met only once. The Tigers and Nittany Lions met in the 1988 Florida Citrus Bowl. That game was won by Clemson 35-10, giving it the 1-0 series lead.

37 years later, these historic programs finally meet again. The Tigers got to play in their climate last time; now they have to play in the northern winter weather Penn State is accustomed to. Swinney might want to make sure his team brings warm clothes for the trip, as temperatures are likely to be as low as 35 degrees at kickoff.

For the Tigers to get one more victory to end the season, it’s going to take an old-school philosophy. They have to stop the run on defense and run the ball effectively on offense.

Penn State lost its starting quarterback, Drew Allar, halfway through the season. Since then, Ethan Grunkemeyer has taken the reins and done well. He’s completed 69.5% of his passes for 1,079 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. Grunkemeyer does his job, but he is at his best when he can lean on the run game.

The redshirt freshman is 3-3 as the starting quarterback. All three wins had much to do with his star running back taking over the game. Kaytron Allen has been one of the best running backs in all of college football this season. He’s accounted for 210 carries for 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns this year. It’s Allen’s second straight season with over 1,000 rushing yards. In just the Nittany Lions’ three-game win streak, Allen had 567 total rushing yards and five touchdowns.

His running mate, Nicholas Singleton, has already announced he is not playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. Nothing official has been said on Allen’s status, though. If Allen does play, the defense needs to keep him from taking over the game. In the case Allen opts out, the defense needs to make the running game a non-factor. They need to force Grunkemeyer to win the game himself.

On offense, the game plan should be similar to what the Tigers did against the South Carolina defense. Lean on Randall’s growth at running back and allow him to make explosive plays in the run game. Randall is going to need another big game on a cold day in the Bronx.