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Photos: Penn State Beats Clemson in Pinstripe Bowl to Finish 2025 Season
Penn State interim head coach lifts the Pinstripe Bowl championship trophy after the Nittany Lions’ 22-10 win over Clemson on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025 at Yankee Stadium. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.com
Penn State (7-6) closed out its 2025 campaign with a 22-10 victory over Clemson (7-6) on Saturday in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in a game between two teams that fell short of high preseason expectations.
For the Nittany Lions, it marked a fourth consecutive win under interim head coach Terry Smith, who finishes his time at the helm of the program with a 4-3 record and became the fourth coach in program history to win a bowl game, joining Rip Engle, Joe Paterno and James Franklin. It was the school’s 34th bowl game victory.
Penn State got standout performances from redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who passed for a career-high 262 yards in his first bowl game as a starter; Dani Dennis-Sutton, who had four tackles and two sacks in his final game as a Nittany Lion; game MVP Trebor Peña, who caught five passes for 100 yards and a touchdown; and redshirt freshman running back Quinton Martin, who turned in his first career 100-yard rushing game in the absence of Nick Singleton, who opted out, and Kaytron Allen, who dressed but didn’t play.
Here’s a look at some of the scenes on a cold afternoon in the Bronx.
The field at Yankee Stadium was cleared on Saturday morning after a snowy night in New York. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comThe Nittany Lion cheers from the sideline during the Pinstripe Bowl. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State’s Audavion Collins and Dani Dennis-Sutton tackle Clemson’s Adam Randle. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State running back Corey Smith carries the ball during the first half against Clemson. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State’s Zion Tracy, Dani Dennis-Suttn and Amare Campbell celebrate a stop of Clemson’s Adam Randle. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer sets up behind center Dominic Rulli. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State tight end Luke Reynolds runs after a catch against Clemson. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State running back Quinton Martin is pursued by Clemson’s Ronan Hanafin and Jeremiah Alexander. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State senior linebacker Dom DeLuca eyes Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik before the snap. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State wide receiver Trebor Peña scores a touchdown on a 73-yard reception in the fourth quarter against Clemson. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton sacks Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State redshirt freshman running back Quinton Martin had a career-high 101 rushing yards in the Pinstripe Bowl win against Clemson. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State tight end Andrew Rappleyea celebrates his 11-yard touchdown reception for the game’s final score with five minutes remaining against Clemson. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comRedshirt freshman safety Vaboue Toure had a team-high seven tackles and a key fourth-down sack in the fourth quarter against Clemson. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State interim head coach Terry Smith is interviewed by ESPN’s Taylor McGregor after the Nittany Lions’ 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State receiver Trebor Peña holds up the Pinstripe Bowl MVP award after the Nittany Lions’ victory over Clemson. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comPenn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer hoists the Pinstripe Bowl trophy next to cornerback Audavion Collins. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.comInterim head coach Terry Smith was all smiles after leading Penn State to a fourth consecutive victory with the win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. Photo by Paul Burdick | For StateCollege.com
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