‘What a Nice Turnaround’: Clemson Faces Penn State in Pinstripe Bowl

[ad_1] Clemson and Penn State had been projected within the preseason to be among the many prime 4 seeds within the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff and in favorable place for a nationwide championship.

Little or no went as anticipated and as a substitute of a outstanding playoff matchup, Clemson and Penn State finish their seasons within the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, a day after a snowstorm is forecast for the New York space.

Within the preseason AP High 25 launched on Aug. 11, Penn State was ranked second whereas Clemson was No. 4. By the top of October, each groups had been unranked and confronted the opportunity of not even being bowl eligible.

Clemson (7-5) began 1-3 and dropped out of the rankings after a 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech on Sept. 13, when it was upset on a 55-yard area objective as time expired. The Tigers had been 3-5 following their 46-45 loss to Duke on Nov. 1 earlier than profitable 4 straight, together with a 20-19 victory at then-No. 19-Louisville on Nov. 14.

"It’s been enjoyable to see them have some simply have some enjoyable, they usually’ve been capable of end the season with a four-game win streak and from the place we had been on the time at 3-5," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney stated Friday. "What a terrific turnaround for this group."

Penn State (6-6) received its first three video games over Nevada, Florida Worldwide and Villanova by a mixed 132-17 margin to maintain its No. 2 rating. As soon as the Nittany Lions started Huge Ten Convention play, they began stumbling, and it value coach James Franklin his job.

The Nittany Lions had been nonetheless a top-10 workforce once they kicked off in opposition to Northwestern, however their 22-21 loss on Oct. 11 dropped them from the rankings and led to Franklin’s firing lower than 24 hours later.

Franklin’s closing sport was a part of a five-game dropping streak that culminated with defeats to Ohio State and Indiana. Penn State ended the common season beneath interim coach Terry Smith by profitable three straight and employed Matt Campbell away from Iowa State.

"End writing the script for the 2025 season," Smith stated Friday. "Six video games in the past we set a imaginative and prescient to put in writing the chapter the best way we wish to write it, and we nonetheless have that chance, and we wish to write this closing script to it."

Klubnik’s Professional Audition Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik was thought-about a preseason Heisman Trophy favourite after ending with 3,639 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in 2024.

These numbers slipped to 2,750 yards and 16 TDs in 2025, however Klubnik produced a career-high 66.6% completion price.

Klubnik had two 300-yard passing video games this season after ending with 4 final season. He additionally handled a sprained ankle that brought about him to overlook a sport in opposition to SMU, and his mobility was restricted due to a quad harm within the closing weeks.

Klubnik is also coping with a thumb harm however will play by it in hopes of getting a win in his closing sport.

"I do assume it’s going to be big and that’s what I’m frequently preventing for and actually wish to pressure to get that end for these guys actually coming again, but in addition simply end effectively in my profession and the fellows which might be finished after this one," Klubnik stated final week.

Grunkemeyer Auditions for Campbell Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer fared decently after Drew Allar was misplaced for the season with a leg harm within the Northwestern sport, and Saturday is an opportunity to impress Campbell, who will attend the sport.

Grunkemeyer didn't throw an interception in his closing three video games and had a 69.1% completion price after taking on for Allar.

"I feel one thing that I’m happy with, enchancment smart, is simply slowing my ft down, slowing the reads down slightly bit, simply ensuring I’m getting all the pieces," Grunkemeyer stated final week.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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