Penn State will be taking on Clemson in the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl and both sides will be looking to grab a win that will give them a momentum boost heading into next year. 

 This season has been a roller coaster affair for both squads. As for Penn State, they fired James Franklin mid-year, which resulted in a coaching search that captivated a national audience but ended in what is viewed as a solid hire in Matt Campbell. Clemson underperformed in a year where they invested in NIL, but they can end on a high note with a win over Penn State.
 
Terry Smith will lead the Nittany Lions into battle against the Tigers, his final game at the helm as interim before he is set to join Campbell’s staff in an undisclosed role. The eternal Dabo Swinney will look to lead his Tigers to a postseason victory for the 15th consecutive year. 
 
Despite some programs opting out of a bowl game, Clemson and Penn State matching up is proof, even in today’s ever changing college landscape, that two historical programs can put a tumultuous regular season behind and look to finish strong in a Bowl game. 
 
Below will be three storylines to watch for from Yankee Stadium. 

Opt outs
 
The first thing to keep an eye on will be who is playing for both sides.
 
Penn State found out on Monday they will be without senior captain Zane Durant, who announced he will be declaring for the 2026 NFL draft. On the season, Durant recorded 25 tackles, 4 sacks, and one interception. 
 
Penn State Senior running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen are the heart of the offense, but as draft eligible seniors, both could be potential opt-outs as they look to preserve their future. 
 
Clemson has not received any decisions from key players yet, but senior quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Adam Randall and junior wide receiver Antonio Williams all are on opt-out watch. On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Wade Woodaz, defensive tackle Demonte Capehart and cornerback Avieon Terrell could all look towards the NFL draft as well.
 
Regardless of who plays, the bowl being over two weeks away should provide enough time for both coaching staffs to make adjustments and prepare accordingly.
 
 
Who calls plays for Clemson 
 
While offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is currently still at the helm for Clemson, things could change by the time these two squads match up on December 27th.
According to Football Scoop, Riley is a top target for the open Head Coaching role at Coastal Carolina. Riley would become the second Clemson staff member to accept a Head Coaching role following the conclusion of the season, as analyst John Grass took over the lead role at Samford. 
 
Grass has already taken numerous staffers with him, including Drew Swinney and Paul Tyson, and it would be expected Riley would do the same should he land the lead role at Coastal Carolina.
 
With all these departures, the question becomes who can run the offense for Clemson in the bowl game if Riley departs. 
 
Most likely, co-offensive coordinator Kyle Richardson or pass game coordinator Tyler Grisham will take the reins with little drop off from Riley. But, if either, or both depart, then things could get interesting in the play calling department for the Tigers. 
 
Who gives it their all 
 
It is safe to say both Clemson and Penn State have had less than desirable seasons, but both Dabo Swinney and Terry Smith have been able to rally their teams to compete hard down the stretch.
 
This game will be the final test, as there isn’t much to play for besides pride at this point and in today’s landscape, even pride can be hard to play for sometimes. 
 
But this game will be a chance for both sides to put an end to that narrative, as Smith and Swinney will look to rally their teams one last time for a postseason victory. The question becomes, which side gets up for the moment, and which side will be thinking towards next season before the ball is kicked off. 
 
Both coaches aren’t the type to let their team slack off, but we will see if they can keep that true all the way through December 27th. The transfer portal moves quickly behind the scenes and if either side isn’t prepared it will cause distractions. 

Cover Photo Credit: USA Today