While some of his teammates elected to opt out of playing in the Pinstripe Bowl to get ready for the NFL Draft, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik explained why he is playing.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said defensive tackle Peter Woods, defensive end T.J. Parker, cornerback Avieon Terrell and defensive tackle DeMonte Capehart would not play in the Pinstripe Bowl and will turn their attention to the NFL Draft instead. Wide receiver Antonio Williams also announced he was going to turn his attention to the draft process.

And though that is their own choice, Klubnik said his choice is to play one more college game.

“I love football and I just do not think that is something I will never do,” the senior said.

If there is anyone who should skip a bowl game, it should be Klubnik. He played the last month of the season with an ankle sprain, and then in the South Carolina game he injured his thumb on his throwing hand.

“I just really want to play. I have been through a lot this year,” he said. “As y’all know, I have been fighting through a lot of injuries and straining to get to Saturday. That is just the mentality I have had this year. Maybe not being able to practice on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and limping through Thursday and giving everything I had…

“Now, I have almost a month to heal up and now I get to go play with some of my best friends one more time. I just want to play another game. There was not even a question I was going to play. I think I even said it before the South Carolina game.”

Penn State (6-6) vs. Clemson (7-5)

• Kickoff: Saturday, noon
• Location: Yankee Stadium, New York, N.Y.
• TV: ABC
• Spread: Clemson is favored by 3.5 points
• Total: 48.5
• Series: Clemson leads the series 1-0

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Clemson will attempt to earn a postseason victory for an FBS-record-extending 15th season in a row. With an eighth win, Clemson (14 straight seasons with eight or more wins) would join Alabama (18) and Georgia (15) as the only programs in the nation with 15 or more consecutive eight-win seasons. It would represent only the 12th streak of 15 or more consecutive eight-win seasons in the FBS in the AP Poll era (dates to 1936).

KEY MATCHUP

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik decided he wanted to play one more game and that could benefit the Tigers in the Pinstripe Bowl. Penn State will be without some major players on its defense including safety Zakee Wheatley and corner A.J. Harris. Both were starters in the Nittany Lions’ secondary. They will also be without senior defensive end Zuriah Fisher, who is no longer with the team. Defensive tackle Zane Durant will also miss the game after declaring for the draft. Though the Tigers are missing wide receiver Antonio Williams, most of Klubnik’s weapons from the South Carolina game are still in place, which the Tigers could use to their advantage.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

The Tigers do have to worry about Penn State running back Kaytron Allen. The All-Big Ten running back ranks second in the Big Ten this season with 1,303 yards. His 15 TDs are tied for first in the conference.

Like Allen, Clemson’s offense revolves around its running back, too. Adam Randall put himself into elite company this season at Clemson. The senior became the fourth player in Clemson history to reach 750 career rushing yards and 750 career receiving yards, joining a trio of former star running backs – Travis Zachery, C.J. Spiller and Travis Etienne. Of course, Randall was a wide receiver over his first three seasons before contributing at running back in the 2024 College Football Playoff against Texas and then making the permanent position switch last spring. This season, Randall started all 12 games, rushing for 779 yards and nine touchdowns on 157 carries, while catching 31 passes for 246 yards and three more scores.

THIS AND THAT

Clemson is 3-0 all-time on December 27. All three wins came in bowl games. Clemson beat Stanford 27-21 in the 1986 Gator Bowl, Colorado 19-10 in the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl and Kentucky in the 2009 Music City Bowl.

FINAL ANALYSIS

This game has the potential to be a high scoring game due to all the attrition on both defenses. Clemson is missing six starters on defense, while Penn State will be without four of its starters. Where the missing pieces are at is what makes this matchup so intriguing. However, with Klubnik playing quarterback, it gives the Tigers a slight edge in the passing game, especially if he can find his playmakers like Randall, wide receiver T.J. Moore and tight end Christian Bentancur.

Prediction

Clemson 27, Penn State 21