Just as everyone predicted in the preseason, Penn State and Clemson will battle in one of the nation’s most prestigious postseason bowl games — the Pinstripe Bowl.
Both teams are coming off disappointing seasons filled with underwhelming results and key injuries, and each has its share of opt outs.
Still, the two will do battle on Dec. 27 in Yankee Stadium, looking to cap off their seasons on a high note.
Here’s what to know about the Tigers ahead of Saturday’s game.
Head coach:
Clemson is led by Dabo Swinney, one of three active head coaches who’ve won a national championship. Swinney has served as head coach since taking over as the interim midway through the 2008 season, totaling an impressive 187-52 record, making him the winningest coach in ACC history.
Swinney’s accomplishments include national championships in 2016 and 2018, nine ACC titles and three Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year honors.
Prior to becoming head coach, Swinney served as a wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator from 2003-08. Before that, he was the wide receivers coach at Alabama, where he won a national championship as a player in 1992.
Coordinators:
Clemson’s offense is run by Garrett Riley, the younger brother of USC head coach Lincoln Riley. He’s been with the Tigers since 2023, when he was hired away from TCU after a run to the national championship game.
Riley, a former Texas Tech quarterback under Mike Leach, incorporates some of Leach’s air raid principles into his offense. They have a focus on high-tempo, using a small playbook with lots of vertical passes. Clemson distributes the ball evenly across the field and has a 50/50 run-pass balance.
Defensive coordinator Tom Allen, who held the same role at Penn State last season, has produced good-not-great results in his first season, similar to his lone year with the Nittany Lions.
The Tigers have allowed 20.4 points per game, good for second in the ACC but No. 29 nationally. Clemson allowed 353.3 yards per game, the eighth most in the conference and 54th-most in college football, ranking below Penn State.
Standout players:
The Tigers will be without 27 players, 17 of whom are unavailable with injuries, per Swinney. The list includes two first-team All-ACC selections, defensive tackle Peter Woods and cornerback Avieon Terrell.
Starting defensive linemen DeMonte Capehart and T.J. Parker have also opted out to prepare for the draft, weakening depth in the trenches. In the secondary, starting safety Khalil Barnes won’t play and intends to enter the transfer portal.
Clemson is also thin at wide receiver, where Antonio Williams has declared for the draft and Bryant Wesco Jr. has been out since October with injury.
Among those participating is quarterback Cade Klubnik, a four-year veteran and three-year starter. Klubnik, who missed one game this season with an injury, has completed 235 of 353 passes (66.6%) for 2,750 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions.
He throws screen passes 17.4% of the time per PFF, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt with two touchdowns. However, he also throws deep (20 or more air yards) 13% of the time with relative success.
Wide receiver T.J. Moore, the team’s leading receiver, will likely be called upon heavily due to opt outs. He’s amassed 46 receptions for 754 yards and four touchdowns, establishing himself as a downfield threat with 16.4 yards per catch.
First-team All-ACC right tackle Blake Miller will play, providing some continuity for Clemson’s offense. He’s allowed 16 pressures and two sacks on 459 pass protection reps.
Defensive end Will Heldt, one of the Tigers top defenders, will also be active. He has 39 tackles and a team leading 7.5 sacks this season, plus a forced fumble and two pass breakups.
Record:
Clemson is 7-5, including a 4-4 mark in conference play. The Tigers went 3-1 in nonconference play, including a season-opening loss to then-No. 9 LSU and a season-finale win over South Carolina.
Clemson got off to an 0-2 start in conference play with an excusable loss to Georgia Tech and a less-excusable loss to Syracuse (the Orange finished 3-9 with other wins over Colgate and UConn).
The Tigers turned it around with a 6-2 record down the stretch, including a 20-19 win over then-No. 19 Louisville on the road. The losses came in back-to-back weeks against SMU (35-24) and Duke (46-45), though Klubnik didn’t play against the Mustangs.
Series history:
Penn State and Clemson have met just once before, a 35-10 Tiger victory in the 1987 Florida Citrus Bowl.
Prediction: Penn State 24, Clemson 20
Clemson had a better record this season and played well down the stretch, but a myriad of opt outs leave the Tigers well below full strength.
Penn State’s roster has also taken on water, with starters Zane Durant, Zakee Wheatley, Vega Ioane and Nick Singleton opting out. While the losses hurt, the Nittany Lions have solid depth at all of these positions.
Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam played over 300 snaps in a rotational role this season, safety Dejuan Lane eclipsed 200 snaps and swing guard T.J. Shanahan played 341 snaps, including 146 at left guard — there’s a wealth of experience available to step in.
At running back, Kaytron Allen is expected to play, and underclassmen Cam Wallace and Corey Smith have flashed when given opportunities.
With both teams fairly evenly matched and the Nittany Lions operating closer to full strength, points will likely be at a premium, but Penn State has a slight edge.
