Penn State football beat Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl, 22-10, on Saturday. This capped off an otherwise disappointing Nittany Lions season that started with national champion expectations. Like the bowl game win, though, there are positives to take away from the 2025 season and hope for the future.
One of those things is quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Penn State veteran's Ethan Grunkemeyer assessment reveals the team is behind their young QB
Against the Tigers, Grunkemeyer had a career-high in pass yards with 260. He completed 23 of 34 passes, finishing with a 67.6 completion rate, and threw two touchdowns as well. One of these touchdowns was a 73-yarder to wide receiver Trebor Pena.
“It was a man [coverage], and I knew he had a seam and we hit it previously in the Rutgers game — the same play — and when I saw him break in front of that defender, I knew I had to put it right on him,” Grunkemeyer said, according to Penn State Nittany Lions On SI.
🦁 23-34 CMP
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 27, 2025
🦁 262 YDS (career high)
🦁 2 TD@PennStateFball's Ethan Grunkemeyer is the @PinstripeBowl player of the game 🙌 pic.twitter.com/yS1A32oNuS
Grunkemeyer's explanation of the play proved exactly why he can continue leading this offense down the stretch of his collegiate career. The redshirt freshman has three years of eligibility remaining, and he already proved how quickly he can adapt short-term and long-term, on and off the field.
Recognizing the coverage, thinking back to the same look he had nearly a month prior, seeing what Pena's perspective and position was, and making the throw happened in a matter of seconds. In his seventh consecutive start, Grunkemeyer had that level of poise, knowledge, and ability. It shows a level of confidence and trust in himself as well that not all young quarterbacks come out of the gate with.
That's something head coach Matt Campbell shouldn't pass up on. No matter what quarterbacks are in the Transfer Portal come the new year, Campbell has a quarterback he can work with and develop over years. Grunkemeyer offers a piece of stability and consistency as well in a team that's experiencing an overall turnaround with Campbell's arrival.
Under former head coach James Franklin's watch, Grunkemeyer's development likely would have led to untapped potential. Under Campbell's watch, however, he can turn Grunkemeyer into the quarterback Penn State wanted out of Drew Allar and never got.