RECAP – Pinstripe Bowl: A Transitional Win for Penn State, Take Down Clemson, 22-10
Penn State Nittany Lion Football will look different in 2026.
Gone is James Franklin’s leadership that crafted Penn State into a National Championship Contender only a year ago.
Next season’s sideline at Penn State will have former Iowa State Head Coach Matt Campbell walking between the hash marks at Beaver Stadium.
On Saturday — a disappointing campaign culminated with a quality win with a 22–10 over Clemson — another nationally-recognized program trying to retain the on-field glory of seasons past.
The 2025 Bad Boy Mowers PinStipe Bowl kicked off with a defensive struggle between Terry Smith’s Nittany Lions and Dabo Sweeney’s Clemson Tigers. After a late second-quarter drive and a 6–3 halftime lead, the Nittany Lions pulled out to a 15–3 advantage after a 43-yard field goal and a 73-yard touchdown connection between Grunkemeyer and Trebor Pena, and missed a two-point conversion.
Clemson appeared to be back in the game when Adam Randall scored a touchdown. Penn State turned the ball over on downs. But then Grunkemeyer found Andrew Rappleyea for an eleven-yard score with just under five minutes left in the contest.
Penn State’s offense got hot in frigid temperatures.
The snow had cleared, and the sidelines were at 19 degrees at kickoff at Yankee Stadium.
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