Most seasons, Clemson and Penn State meeting up in the postseason would be big news. Not this year.

With both teams failing miserably to live up to lofty preseason expectations, Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl between the Tigers and Nittany Lions has basically become a contest to see which team has more able bodies.

Both teams come in on winning streaks, but both look drastically different since their final game of the regular season.

While Clemson comes in looking like a MASH unit along the offensive line, the Tigers do have three starters who are suiting up. Penn State is missing four of its five starters up front and one of its top running backs. It’s possible that starting running back Kaytron Allen only plays minimal snaps.

Where Clemson has been hit hard is on the other side of the ball. Will Heldt is the only starting defensive lineman guaranteed to play. Stephiylan Green’s status is in question, and every other regular has either opted out or is injured. Linebacker Wade Woodaz is also out with an injury, and defensive backs Avieon Terrell and Khalil Barnes will not play. Terrell is an opt out and Barnes is transferring.

With those many players out on that side of the ball, the question becomes how the Clemson defense holds up against the Penn State running game. With so many of their offensive linemen out and questions surrounding who will actually get the bulk of the carries, that task might not be quite as challenging. The Tigers’ run defense is dramatically improved from last season, currently ranking 15th nationally, allowing 102.8 yards per game.

Not allowing Penn State to have a lot of success on the ground and controlling the clock will be one key. However, I think this comes down to what the Tigers do on offense. With Cade Klubnik now having close to a month off, he should be as healthy as he’s been since early in the season. While he won’t have pass catchers Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco, or Cole Turner, he still has T.J. Moore, Tristan Smith and Christian Bentancur. Expect Moore to play a prominent role.

Where Clemson wins this game, though, is on the ground. Garrett Riley has to make the run a point of emphasis. Getting away from it, or abandoning it entirely, is not an option. This is Adam Randall’s last hurrah with the Tigers. How fitting would it be to send him out with a 100-yard game?

Freshman back Gideon Davidson should also factor in. Maybe Klubnik is healthy enough to hurt a Nittany Lions defensive front that has also been weakened by attrition with his legs.

The weather is also likely to be a factor. While most of the snow in the forecast looks like it will be moved out of the area by kickoff, it’s still going to be by far the coldest temps the Tigers have played in this season.

That leads us to the final key to victory. Protecting the football. Despite throwing a pick in the win over South Carolina, Klubnik has really cut down on the turnovers over the back half of the season.

Penn State QB, redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkenmeyer, has thrown four interceptions in six games since taking over for injured starter Drew Allar. With four of their five starters out up front, the Clemson defensive line, even without some starters, should be able to generate some pressure and hopefully force Grunkenmeyer into a mistake or two.

So, which team wins this battle of attrition?

While a victory won’t change anything big picture-wise for either program, one of these teams will head into the offseason with a little momentum.

Klubnik, Moore and Randall all play key roles, while Clemson’s patchwork defense holds up just a little better. However, the hero just might end up being placekicker Nolan Hauser as the Tigers end the season with a five-game winning streak.

Clemson 23, Penn State 20

Photo courtesy of Bart Boatwright