Penn State and Clemson arrive at the Pinstripe Bowl dealing with the same reality. Even if it looks different at first glance, both rosters have been reshaped by opt-outs, injuries, and draft decisions that strip away familiar names and force depth players into the spotlight. What takes the field at Yankee Stadium is not a reflection of preseason expectations or full-strength depth charts.
Penn State enters with an interim staff and a long list of opt-outs that touches nearly every position group. Clemson is navigating its own losses, including two of the most impactful defenders in the country. Defensive end TJ Parker and defensive tackle Peter Woods are both unavailable as they prepare for the NFL draft, removing two first-round caliber talents from the Tigers’ front. Cornerback Avieon Terrell will also miss the game, thinning a secondary already being asked to play extended snaps without its usual margin for error. Even with quarterback Cade Klubnik choosing to play, Clemson’s roster is far from intact.
This game is not about which logo carries more weight. It is about who functions best when structure is stressed and replacements are asked to carry meaningful snaps.
A Postseason Test of Roster Resilience
Penn State’s Offense Navigates a Changed Backfield and Front
Penn State’s offensive plan is shaped by absence, but not uncertainty. Nick Singleton is among the opt-outs, leaving Kaytron Allen available without his usual backfield partner. Interim coach Terry Smith made clear in his press conference that the emphasis has not changed. “The run game is still going to be critical to our success,” Smith said. “We’re going to have to run the football and establish that run game.”
What complicates that task is the offensive line turnover in front of him. Penn State will be without guard Vega Ioane, center Nick Dawkins, and tackles Nolan Rucci and Drew Shelton. That places significant responsibility on Cooper Cousins, T.J. Shanahan, and Dominic Rulli on the interior, with flexibility required at tackle as the interim staff shifts pieces to find workable combinations. Smith expressed confidence in that group, noting those players have logged meaningful snaps throughout the season and are expected to hold the standard.
Behind Allen, opportunities also open for Corey Smith, Quinton Martin, and Cam Wallace, all of whom received extended bowl practice reps. Without tight end Khalil Dinkins available, Penn State loses an inline blocker and a safety valve in the short passing game, making early-down efficiency even more important against a Clemson defense that still plays downhill despite its losses.
Redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer will start after handling extended duty earlier this season when Drew Allar was injured. With Matt Campbell now overseeing the program and long-term quarterback questions looming, the Pinstripe Bowl doubles as an evaluation window. This is not a spot to simply hide the quarterback. It is an opportunity for Grunkemeyer to operate within structure, test coverage, and show command against a Power Four defense while the staff gathers meaningful film on a player who may be competing for the job sooner than later.
Penn State’s Defense Adjusts Without Its Anchors
Penn State’s defense also enters altered. Defensive tackle Zane Durant opted out, removing one of the unit’s most consistent interior disruptors. Safety Zakee Wheatley is also unavailable, taking away a stabilizing presence on the back end who handled communication and cleanup responsibilities throughout the season.
Those absences reshape how Penn State can defend Clemson quarterback Klubnik. Without Durant collapsing pockets inside, the pass rush must win with discipline rather than immediate disruption. Without Wheatley, Penn State cannot afford coverage busts or late rotations against a quarterback comfortable extending plays.
Smith acknowledged the reality of the moment without framing it as an excuse. “It’s the next-man-up,” he said. “We can’t make excuses. We just have to produce results.” That means Dejuan Lane, Vaboue Toure, and Lamont Payne stepping into expanded safety roles, while edge defenders such as Yvan Kemajou and Jaylen Harvey must generate pressure without overcommitting.
Against Klubnik, Penn State’s margin for error is thin. He remains one of the better improvisational quarterbacks in the country, and defensive lapses caused by inexperience can quickly flip field position. The Lions must win snaps with leverage and communication rather than sheer disruption.
Clemson’s Offense Without Its Defensive Safety Net
Clemson’s decision-makers face a different version of the same challenge. While Klubnik is available, the Tigers will be without Parker and Woods, two players who typically erase mistakes up front and shorten games by controlling early downs. Their absence affects Clemson’s offense indirectly by placing more pressure on sustained drives rather than relying on defensive stops to tilt momentum.
Offensively, Clemson must account for a Penn State defense missing pieces, but still built on speed and pursuit. Klubnik’s mobility remains a weapon, yet Penn State’s approach will focus on forcing him to operate from compressed pockets and not escape in lanes. Without the luxury of Parker and Woods creating negative plays for the opponent, Clemson cannot afford stalled drives or short fields.
A Bowl Defined by Opportunity, Not Familiar Names
Penn State is asking depth players across the offensive line, backfield, secondary, and defensive front to play meaningful snaps under an interim staff. Clemson is doing the same without several defensive cornerstones that normally define its identity. Both teams are navigating portal movement, opt-outs, and futures that extend well beyond this game.
Smith framed the moment simply. “We still have that opportunity,” he said. “We want to write this final script the way we want to write it.” At Yankee Stadium, the outcome will belong to the players who seize that opportunity when structure frays, and expectations disappear.
How to Watch
Penn State will take on Clemson at 12:00 PM EST on Saturday, December 27th. The game will air on ABC.
Main Image: MLB, The Pinstripe Bowl