Brotherhood, Belief, and One Last Ride: Inside Clemson’s Pinstripe Bowl Mindset
By any traditional measure, the 2025 season challenged Clemson in ways few could have imagined. A 3–5 low point. A roster battered by injuries. Questions from the outside. Yet standing in New York City ahead of the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Dabo Swinney didn’t focus on adversity. He focused on something deeper.
“A brotherhood.”
That single word defined Clemson’s bowl week — and, in many ways, its season.
Seniors Set the Tone
Swinney repeatedly returned to the role of Clemson’s seniors, a group led by players like Cade Klubnik, Tyler Venables, Adam Randall, and Tristan Smith, who are preparing to play their final game together in orange.
“This group of seniors never flinched,” Swinney said. “They’ve led all the way.”
That leadership showed itself most clearly in Clemson’s late-season resurgence. After sitting at 3–5, the Tigers closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak, a turnaround Swinney called “the greatest turnaround team in Clemson history.” The result was not just bowl eligibility, but a renewed sense of purpose — one final opportunity to compete together.
A Bowl Experience Like No Other
For much of Clemson’s roster, this week has been about firsts.
Two entire classes had never experienced a true bowl trip — last year’s freshmen played in a College Football Playoff first-round road game, and this year’s freshmen had never been before. Add in a destination like New York City, and the experience became something Swinney described as “one of the most amazing” of his 30 bowl games.
From visiting the 9/11 Museum, to ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, to practicing inside Yankee Stadium, Clemson’s week has blended football with perspective.
“It’s Christmas in New York,” Swinney said. “And who gets to go on the field and play at Yankee Stadium?”
Maybe even in the snow.
Embracing the Elements — and the Opportunity
With winter weather forecasted, Clemson has leaned into the unknown rather than shying away from it.
“Why not?” Swinney said of possibly playing in the snow. “It would be an amazing experience.”
That attitude mirrors Clemson’s approach to a roster thinned by injuries and opt-outs. Swinney confirmed that 21 players are unavailable due to injury or surgery, with others opting out or transferring, pushing that number higher. Four starting offensive linemen will miss the game, along with key contributors at wide receiver and defense.
Instead of lamenting what’s missing, Swinney emphasized what’s gained.
“You’re going to see a ton of guys play who haven’t played a whole lot,” he said.
Freshmen and reserves like Juju Preston, Clark Sanderson, Chase Byrd, Parker Fulghum, and tight end Logan Brooking will see expanded roles. On defense, young players such as Caden Story, Darien Mayo, and Branden Strozier have used bowl practices to accelerate their development.
The Challenge Ahead: Penn State
Awaiting Clemson is a physical, disciplined opponent in Penn State Nittany Lions, a team Swinney described as “big, strong, and physical.”
“They can run the football,” he said, noting Penn State’s all-time leading rusher Kaytron Allen and a stout offensive line. Defensively, Swinney highlighted the Lions’ ability to disguise pressure and generate havoc, singling out edge rusher No. 33 (Dani Dennis-Sutton, 6.5 sacks) as one of the best Clemson has faced.
“They’re actually similar to us,” Swinney said. “You’ve got to be disciplined post-snap.”
The matchup represents more than a bowl trophy for the Tigers. It’s an opportunity to measure itself against one of college football’s most iconic programs — and to punctuate a season defined by resilience.
One More Time Together
Whether it’s the seniors leading the way, the younger players seizing opportunity, or a team embracing snow, setbacks, and circumstance, Clemson enters the Pinstripe Bowl grounded in something simple.
Togetherness.
“I’m really thankful that we got one more opportunity to be together,” Swinney said.
On a cold night in New York, under the lights of Yankee Stadium, Clemson’s season comes down to one final ride — a brotherhood playing for each other one last time.
