Coaching changes, opt outs headline Penn State’s preparation for Pinstripe Bowl vs Clemson
University Park, PA (WJAC) — With less than two weeks to go until the Pinstripe Bowl, Penn State football is dealing with a lot of change.
Later this month, Penn State will be eyeing its 4th win in a row, while dealing with major roster and coaching questions.
In the past week, four Nittany Lions have announced that they are opting out of the bowl game and declaring for the NFL Draft.
That list includes senior running back Nick Singleton, who finishes his Penn State career as the program’s all-time leader in rushing touchdowns and all-purpose touchdowns.
The Nittany Lions will also be without seniors Zane Durant and Zakee Wheatley, along with redshirt junior linebacker Vega Ioane, who is the only one of the four who still had college eligibility remaining after this season.
Those opt outs come amongst even more uncertainty on the coaching staff.
Last week, Penn State announced that defensive coordinator Jim Knowles is leaving for the same position at Tennessee, less than a year after taking the job in Happy Valley.
It is still unclear who will handle defensive coordinator duties for the bowl game against Clemson.
And there is also the question of new head coach Matt Campbell and what role, if any, he will have on game day.
When asked about that during his introductory press conference last Monday, Campbell emphasized putting the team first.
“The first thing I can do is not be a hindrance to this great team. To watch these guys climb back, it’s been super impressive. My respect for Terry Smith and the seniors on this football team, going to win four in a row, that’s huge. I think we’ll figure out, Terry and I, where is the best place that I cannot be a hindrance to this team. It allows me to be able to start to build for the ’26 team.”
In a statement, the university confirmed that Campbell will be in attendance for the bowl game but will not be coaching in any capacity.
The Pinstripe Bowl between Penn State and Clemson is set for Saturday, December 27th at Yankee Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for noon.
