There is one player on the Clemson defense who is familiar with playing against Penn State.

Defensive end Will Heldt, who transferred in from Purdue after last season, faced off against the Nittany Lions last season with the Boilermakers. Penn State won that game 48-10 and would wind up making a deep run in the College Football Playoff.

“I remember they were great last year,” Heldt said. “I remember they were great up front. A hard-nosed team. They had a lot of dynamic tight ends and skill players. They are a dynamic offense.”

Much like Clemson, the Nittany Lions were expected to be a playoff contender in 2025, but things didn’t go as planned. The Nittany Lions got off to a 3-3 start, costing longtime head coach James Franklin his job. However, after film study, Heldt believes this team is better than its 6-6 record would indicate.

What really stands out to Heldt is a rushing attack that averages right at five yards per carry and 177.6 yards per game. Lead back Kaytron Allen has rushed for 1,303 yards this season, which is good for seventh-best in the country.

“Really talented group, they run the football really well,” Heldt said. “One of the nation’s leading rushers.”

Clemson’s leading tackler, linebacker Sammey Brown, echoed those same sentiments when asked what he’s seen from the Penn State offense.

“They are impressive, it is impressive watching the film and seeing what they do,” Brown said. “They are a really good football team. I don’t think the record this year reflects the amount of skill and kind of talent they have on that offense.”

Like Heldt, Brown knows that stopping the run will be priority number one for the Tigers, whose rush defense ranks No. 15 nationally, allowing 102.8 yards per game.

“Watching the film, they are really committed to the run, and they are going to do that in the bowl game,” Brown said.

Clemson and Penn State will face off in the Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium next Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon, and ESPN will have the broadcast.