Penn and Clemson had similar preseason expectations and goals, but will end the season against each other in the Pinstripe Bowl instead.
Penn State football is gearing up for its matchup with the Clemson Tigers in this week's Pinstripe Bowl. Before Penn State heads to the Bronx, it may be a good idea to get a quick rundown of this week's bowl game opponent.
Like Penn State, it is safe to suggest the 2025 preseason expectations for Clemson did not pan out. Clemson was also a top-five preseason team with the expectation of winning the ACC on its way back to the College Football Playoff. The defending ACC champs, who were coming off a first-round exit in the 2024 College Football Playoff, hoped this season would lead to another step forward for a program looking to get back to the top of the college football mountain. But a season-opening loss to LSU was soon followed by back-to-back losses in conference play to Syracuse and Georgia Tech. Later in the year Clemson lost back-to-back games to SMU (in an ACC championship game rematch from the previous season) and eventual ACC champion Duke (which is still remarkable to think about).
The Tigers did end the season on a four-game winning streak, highlighted by an upset of Louisville to cause some ACC chaos and a 14-point win over in-state rival South Carolina to wrap up the regular season. Here are a few things to know about Clemson ahead of this week's Pinstripe Bowl.
Dabo Swinney's fewest wins at Clemson since 2010
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has been in charge of the Tigers for nearly two decades. Since taking over the program as head coach in 2008, Clemson has enjoyed some of the highest successes in the sport under his leadership. It took some time for Swinney to transform Clemson into one of college football's top programs, which resulted in four College Football Playoff national championship appearances and two wins between 2015 and 2019, but the Tigers have taken a step back from the upper echelon of college football superpowers in recent years.
Clemson's 7 wins this season is the second-fewest in a full season for Swinney as a full-time head coach (Clemson won four games in 2008 in the 7 games coached by Swinney that season). Clemson went 6-7 in 2010.
Who is opting out for Clemson?
Penn State and Clemson will each be without some notable players this week, as expected for a non-College Football Playoff matchup these days. Clemson will be without defensive linemen T.J. Parker, Peter Woods and DeMonte Capehart, and cornerback Avieon Terrell. Terrell forced a team-high five fumbles this season and Parker, Wood,s and Capehart combined for 8.0 sacks.
Clemson QB Cade Klubnik plans to play in the Pinstripe Bowl
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was a trendy preseason Heisman Trophy pick at the start of the season, but obviously, this year did not go according to plan. Despite a handful of key players opting out for both teams in this week's Pinstripe Bowl, Clemson will have their starting quarterback for the game. Klubnik said there was never a question of whether or not he would be playing in the bowl game, as he believes a good showing could help boost his NFL stock ahead of the 2026 NFL draft.
Former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen is Clemson's DC
After the 2024 season that ended with a loss in the College Football Playoff semifinal, Penn State and defensive coordinator Tom Allen went their separate ways. Allen moved to Clemson to become a highly-paid coordinator for Swinney and the Tigers, and Penn State broke the bank to bring in Jim Knowles from Ohio State. Allen spent one season coaching the Penn State defense following his time as Indiana's head coach. Clemson's defense comes into the bowl season with the No. 54 defensive rank in the nation.
Penn State lost the only previous meeting against Clemson
Call it a long-awaited revenge game if you wish, because Penn State trails the all-time series with Clemson. Penn State lost the only other meeting with Clemson with a 35-10 loss to the Tigers in the 1988 Citrus Bowl. This one was a bit embarrassing for Penn State and head coach Joe Paterno.
Now, Penn State and Clemson are back on the same playing field. Of course, at the start of the year, this was a matchup expected to be seen in a College Football Playoff game, and not in a Major League Baseball stadium.
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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: 5 things Penn State fans need to know about Clemson for Pinstripe Bowl
Category: General Sports
