After taking over for James Franklin midway through the 2025 campaign, Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith led the Nittany Lions to four straight wins to end the season, capped off by Saturday’s 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The story of the game was Penn State’s ability to control the football after halftime, as the Nittany Lions totaled 269 of their 397 yards in the second half and scored both of their touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

During his postgame press conference, Smith commented on beating Clemson in frigid conditions at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. It was 28 degrees at kickoff and felt like 19 due to the wind chill. The game followed a snowstorm, with snow still piled in the corners of the stadium.

“We used the phrase earlier in the season ‘getting callused up,’ and as the game went on, they got callused up and got better and better,” Smith said. “A game like today where it’s very cold outside and every hit hurts to the core of your body, our guys wore them down, and eventually they succumbed to it.”

Playing against a worn down Clemson defense, which was missing six starters and several reserve players due to injuries, opt outs and the transfer portal, Penn State ran for 135 yards overall and gave up just 2 sacks and 6 tackles for loss, despite having four starters and two reserve offensive linemen, as well as its starting tight end, opt out or leave the team for the transfer portal.

Meanwhile, Penn State’s defense held the Tigers (7-6) to 236 total yards, including just 43 rushing yards and 1.7 yards per carry. The Tigers were 5 of 15 on third down, while Penn State was 11 of 19 on third down, including 6 of 8 in the second half. It was the most third down conversions allowed by the Clemson defense all season, as the Nittany Lions (7-6) finished the game with a 33:01-26:59 advantage in time of possession.

Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer had a career day, as he completed 23 of 34 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns.

“Our defense was outstanding,” Smith said. “[Co-defensive coordinator and safeties] coach [Anthony] Poindexter led us today. We gave up 236 total yards, 1.7 yards per carry. Outstanding. Critical fourth down at the very end. Ethan Grunkemeyer was 23-for-35, 262 yards. He just continues to get better. We had a few drops on him. The stats would have been better. But he continues to play great.”

–Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images