When Clemson plays Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27, the Tigers will be missing close to 30 total players, mostly due to injuries, but also because of players either declaring for the NFL Draft or planning to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.

However, the Tigers “still got enough” for the Pinstripe Bowl, head coach Dabo Swinney says.

“We still got enough,” Swinney said in an interview conducted by Clemson on Tuesday, after the Tigers had their first on-site practice in New York ahead of the Pinstripe Bowl.

“And these guys came here to play. So for a lot of these guys, it’s an opportunity to play. And we’ve got great senior leadership, guys that have truly been all in to finish, and I’m really proud of those guys.”

According to Swinney, 28 is the number of scholarship players Clemson will be without for the Pinstripe Bowl, including 19 due to injury.

“So, a lot of guys that would play, that can’t play,” Swinney said. “But we’ve had fun preparing. We’ve had fun challenging some of these other guys that are gonna get their shot, to go put it on tape. So, it’s going to be a ton of fun, and I look forward to competing against a tough Penn State team.”

After a 1-3 start this season, Swinney’s 2025 squad became the first team in school history to win seven games in a season in which the team started the year with one win or fewer through four games.

Clemson (7-5) will try to earn its eighth win with a Pinstripe Bowl victory, which would give the Tigers at least eight wins for the 15th consecutive season.

When they face Penn State (6-6) in the Pinstripe Bowl, the Tigers will attempt to extend their FBS-record streak of 14 consecutive seasons with at least one postseason victory.

Clemson will also try to check off the final goal it has for every season – “win the closer.”

“It’s the closer. That’s our goal,” Swinney said. “Whether you’re in the national championship, or it’s the last game — it’s the closer. So, these guys have really bought in to doing what they need to do to help us try to finish this thing with five in a row. We’ve won four in a row. We’re trying to create momentum. Nobody cares who’s in, who’s out. It’s about the guys that are here.”

The Pinstripe Bowl is set to kick off at noon from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and will be televised on ABC.