NEW YORK – Dani Dennis-Sutton and Trebor Pena could have opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl like 12 other Penn State regulars. But they chose to play and helped the Nittany Lions end their disappointing season in a very satisfying way Saturday at Yankee Stadium. “This program gave me a million oppo rtunities,” Dennis-Sutton said, “so playing in this game was nothing. I love football. I love playing football. I love this program. This was sort of a no-brainer for me.” Dennis-Sutton registered two sacks and helped the Penn State defense dominate Clemson in a 22-10 victory, the Lions’ fourth straight. Pena caught five passes for 100 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown catch and run that broke it open in the fourth quarter. He was named the game’s MVP. “Having another chance to play a game was special,” Pena said. “You have to take advantage of it. It was a no-brainer for me to play in this game and finish it out the right way with everybody else.” Ethan Grunkemeyer completed 23-of-34 passes for a career-high 262 yards and two touchdowns with a turnover. “Ethan Grunkemeyer got better every game,” interim head coach Terry Smith said. “This was his best game. He was lights out. He delivered time and time again. He made critical third down throws. He delivered.” Ryan Barker kicked three field goals from 40-plus yards and Quinton Martin Jr. ran for 101 yards with his first 20 carries of the season. Penn State (7-6) beat Clemson (7-6) despite playing without many of its top players and with a makeshift offensive line, which included three guys making their first career starts. They protected Grunkemeyer and opened holes for Martin. “As the game went on, they got better and better,” Smith said about the offensive linemen. “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.” Dennis-Sutton registered two sacks and helped the Lions hold the Tigers to 236 total yards. Safety Vaboue Toure sealed it when he sacked Cade Klubnik with 2:29 left. “Dani told me after the Rutgers game (regular season finale) that he was going to play in this game,” Smith said, “and that he was going to be the MVP. I know Trebor got the MVP, but Dani is my MVP because this guy didn’t have to play today. “What an outstanding performance.” Toure’s sack came after Grunkemeyer tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andrew Rappleyea, which made it 22-10 with 4:56 left. Klubnik finished 22-for-39 for 193 yards for Clemson, which had just 43 rushing yards. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter served as defensive coordinator for Penn State after Jim Knowles left after the regular season to take the same job at Tennessee. “Coach Poindexter did an amazing job getting these guys ready,” Smith said. “He’s a great leader of men. He’s a great human being. He’s one of the locker room favorites. I’m super happy for him.” Penn State dominated the third quarter with two long drives. Smith decided to go for it on fourth-and-4 from the Clemson 28, but Devonte Ross dropped a pass with blockers in front of him. After the Tigers punted, Penn State methodically moved down the field to the Clemson 25 as the third quarter ended. Barker then drilled a 42-yard field goal to make it 9-3 on the first play of the fourth. The Lions forced a three and out before Grunkemeyer threaded a pass through two defenders to Pena, who outran the secondary to the end zone with 12:51 to go. Clemson answered with a 65-yard drive after Gabe Nwosu hit a kickoff out of bounds. Adam Randall finished it with a 2-yard run to make it 15-10 with 8:47 left, but Grunkemeyer and the Penn State offense scored again to put away the Tigers. And then Dennis-Sutton and the defense made one last stop. “Dani is a high-character guy,” Grunkemeyer said. “Everyone in the locker room loves him. Especially in the last couple months with all the hardships we’ve been having, he’s been a glue guy for us. He’s a leader for the team and a really good player. It’s easy to follow a guy like that.” Penn State interim head coach Terry Smith lifts the trophy after defeating Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game at Yankee Stadium Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)   ...read more read less