Penn State secured a 22-10 victory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl, held at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The game was played under cold conditions, with Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer throwing for 262 yards and two touchdowns, and wide receiver Trebor Pena earning MVP honors.
Game Overview
Penn State defeated Clemson by a score of 22-10 in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday afternoon. The contest took place at Yankee Stadium in New York. Game conditions included a temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind chill of 19 degrees Fahrenheit, with residual snow visible in sections of the stadium from a prior storm.
Penn State Performance
Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer completed 23 of 34 passes for a career-high 262 yards and two touchdowns. This performance also marked new career highs in completions and attempts for Grunkemeyer.
Key scoring plays for Penn State included:
- A 73-yard touchdown pass from Grunkemeyer to Trebor Pena in the fourth quarter, extending the lead to 15-3.
- An 11-yard touchdown pass from Grunkemeyer to Andrew Rappleyea, following a 35-yard play connecting Grunkemeyer with Devonte Ross, which made the score 22-10.
Trebor Pena concluded the game with five catches for 100 yards, marking his third career 100-yard receiving game, and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Kicker Ryan Barker contributed three field goals, successfully converting attempts from 22, 48, and 43 yards.
On the ground, Quentin Martin led Penn State's rushing efforts with 101 yards on 20 carries, surpassing his previous career total of 32 yards. Starting running back Kaytron Allen did not participate due to injury.
Clemson Performance
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 22 of 39 passes for 193 yards and was sacked four times by the Penn State defense. Penn State defenders also broke up eight of Klubnik's passes.
Clemson's only touchdown came from Adam Randall, a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter that reduced Penn State's lead to 15-10.
Clemson's ground game gained a total of 43 yards, which was their second-lowest rushing total of the season. Their lowest rushing total of the season was 31 yards in a season-opening loss to LSU. The 10 points scored by Clemson represented their lowest total in a bowl game since the 1999 Peach Bowl, where they lost 10-7 to LSU.
Team Context and Future Outlook
Penn State concluded its season with a 7-6 record, securing victories in its final four games under interim coach Terry Smith. Matt Campbell is slated to become the next head coach.
Clemson also finished its season with a 7-6 record, with the loss ending their four-game winning streak.
Penn State is scheduled to commence its next season at home against Marshall under new head coach Matt Campbell. Clemson is slated to open its 2026 season against LSU, with a new starting quarterback following Cade Klubnik's departure.