Penn State Soars Past Clemson 22-10 in Frigid Pinstripe Bowl Conditions
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In a chilly Yankee Stadium, Penn State's Ethan Grunkemeyer led his team to a convincing 22-10 victory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Penn State quarterback threw for a career-high 262 yards and two touchdowns, including a spectacular 73-yard strike to Trebor Pena in the fourth quarter. The game was played in extremely cold conditions, with a temperature of 28 degrees and a wind chill of 19 degrees. Despite the challenging environment, Grunkemeyer completed 23 of 34 passes, setting new career marks for completions and attempts. Penn State's victory marked the team's fourth win under interim coach Terry Smith, who praised Grunkemeyer's performance. 'Every game he got better,' Smith said. 'This was his best game.' Pena was a key factor in the Penn State victory, finishing with five catches for 100 yards and being named the game's MVP. He had the third 100-yard game of his career and made a crucial 15-yard run down the left side to seal the win. Clemson's Cade Klubnik, who is departing the team, completed 22 of 39 passes for 193 yards, but was sacked four times and had eight passes broken up by Penn State defenders. Penn State's win marked the end of the season under Smith, who will be succeeded by Matt Campbell. The team will open the 2025 season at home against Marshall, while Clemson will begin the 2026 season at LSU with a new quarterback.
