NEW YORK — Penn State’s second overall appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl, played Saturday at storied Yankee Stadium against Clemson, wasn’t a big enough draw for 16 Nittany Lions players, including star senior running back Nicholas Singleton and senior defensive tackle Zane Durant, part of a sizable PSU group that skipped the team’s final game of the 2025 season.
Perhaps the event could have been subtitled the Opt-Out Bowl.
The Lions’ tumultuous season began with three straight victories and championship expectations, but later nosedived during a six-game losing streak that cost coach James Franklin his job after an October loss to Northwestern.
It made for a bittersweet close Saturday in the Bronx when Penn State beat Atlantic Coast Conference titan Clemson, 22-10.
“A tremendous effort, team effort,” interim coach Terry Smith said postgame.
But despite the historic Yankee Stadium venue, a national television audience, and Penn State riding a three-game winninig streak under Smith, the more tantalizing PSU storyline leading into Saturday’s tilt was how many Lions players were not in uniform.
Twenty-four hours before the game, Smith was asked whether he was disappointed in the numerous players who opted out.
“Well, we’re not disappointed. We have a tremendous opportunity to finish this season off the way the last three games have gone, and here’s a moment and an opportunity for these guys to step forward,” Smith said on a Zoom call with reporters. “It’s the next man up. This is today’s college football. We’re adapting and adjusting, and we have a game to play, and that’s all that matters. … We’re going to play hard and get after it like we’ve done the past four or five weeks.”
Singleton, the Shillington, Pa., product who is the university’s career leader in rushing touchdowns (45) and all-purpose yards (5,586), and Durant, an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection, had both made their opt-out intentions public earlier this month. Singleton’s father, Tim, told The Inquirer that “the risk versus the reward wasn’t worth it” for his son to play in the Pinstripe Bowl.
“It was a tough season, with Franklin getting fired,” said Tim Singleton, who still works as a mailman in Shillington. “Time to move on. Nicholas is in New York [for the game] and is going to support his teammates, especially the guys he came in with. We’re wishing them well.”
Singleton is projected to be an early pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and Tim Singleton said his son would start the new year training in preparation for the Senior Bowl (Jan. 31), the NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 23-March 6), and ultimately, the draft from April 23-25.
“Hopefully, [we] stay healthy,” said Tim Singleton.
One senior who did not opt out was defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, who recorded two sacks in Saturday’s win.
“Dani is my MVP, because this guy didn’t have to play today,” Smith said.
Dennis-Sutton said it was a “no-brainer” to play in the season finale. “I made a dedication to this program,” he said. “I love playing football. I love this program.”
The risk/reward component was likely a key factor for many of the players not in uniform — with no college playoff implications at stake, why risk injury in a game only months away from the draft, when many college players hope to make a lucrative jump to the pros?
Both Penn State and Clemson began the season with title hopes, but each finished with a mediocre record — Penn State was 6-6, and Clemson was 7-5. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, however, already has two national championships with the Tigers on his resumé.
Smith, the former Nittany Lions star receiver, meanwhile, coached his final game at the Penn State helm Saturday. Former Iowa State coach Matt Campbell assumes coaching duties in 2026.
Smith, who will remain with the program, said before the game that Campbell would attend the Pinstripe Bowl.
“Matt will be there, but I don’t know if he’s going to be on the sidelines or not,” Smith said. “He wants to stay hidden away and allow us to run the game.”
Smith said he has had “terrific” communications with Campbell so far.
“Yeah, it’s been great. He has made himself really accessible to the staff. We’re just trying to piece together and retain roster and bring in new roster players,” Smith said. “But he’s been very, very good. The guys that have come with him so far, they’ve been awesome, as well. We’re just learning [about] each other.”
As for Penn State’s running game, Swinney said his team’s main worry going into the Pinstripe Bowl was how to contain the Lions’ rushing attack.
“The biggest thing is [Penn State] can run the football. They’re big, strong, physical,” he said. “They’ve got the all-time leading rusher in the history of Penn State [in Kaytron Allen]. If you follow Penn State football, that says a lot. There have been a lot of people [who have played] there like Franco Harris and Saquon Barkley. They’ve had a bunch of great ones roll through there. So he’s a big strong back.”
But even though Smith said Allen would be in uniform Saturday, Allen did not play due to injury. Allen is Penn State’s career rushing leader (4,180 yards), and is also expected to be a coveted draft pick next spring. Quinton Martin Jr. took the bulk of the Lions’ carries Saturday and finished with 101 yards.
Nick Dawkins, Penn State’s center and the son of the late 76ers star Darryl Dawkins, was another opt-out. And there was only one PSU starting offensive lineman from the 2025 season, guard Anthony Donkoh, who was in uniform for Saturday’s game.
On the heels of a winter storm that dumped several inches of snow on New York City on Friday night and into Saturday morning, the two teams took the field in frigid conditions before 41,101 fans. It was the first time the teams had met since the 1988 Citrus Bowl, a 35-10 Clemson victory.
A dull first half ended with Penn State leading, 6-3. Lions kicker Ryan Barker booted field goals of 22 and 48 yards. Barker also later hit a 43-yarder. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (23-for-34, 262 yards), who took over after starter Drew Allar suffered a season-ending ankle injury on Oct. 11, connected with Trebor Peña for a 73-yard score. He connected with Andrew Rappleyea for an 11-yard, fourth-quarter TD to ice the game.
As for Smith’s swan song as Penn State head coach?
“It was a great ride,” he said. “I’m ready for the next chapter.”
Not present
The complete list of Penn State players who opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl included: Singleton, Durant, Dawkins, OL Alex Birchmeier, DE Chaz Coleman, DE Zuriah Fisher, CB AJ Harris, OL Vega Ioane, LB Kari Jackson, DE Daniel Jennings, LB Alex Tatsch, CB Elliot Washington, S Zakee Wheatley, TE Khalil Dinkins, OL Nolan Rucci, and OL Drew Shelton.
