What the Pinstripe Bowl Said About Clemson’s Future

Clemson suffered a bitter ending to a tough 2025 season. The Tigers lost the Pinstripe Bowl to Penn State 22-10 to complete the year. This means Clemson will finish the season 7-6 overall.

It’s the worst finish the Tigers have had since the 2010 season. This latest loss said much about what Dabo Swinney and his staff need to do in order to get his program back to championship status in 2026.

Clemson Suffers Bitter End to a Tough 2025 Season

Offense Needs Change

Clemson’s offensive performance in the Pinstripe Bowl left much to be desired. That is not unusual for the Tigers in recent years, though. The offense has not reached the heights it was projected to when coordinator Garrett Riley was hired.

With Cade Klubnik taking his final bow from the Clemson program, there isn’t a better time to make changes. That can come from simply switching up the philosophy of how the offense is run, or be as drastic as bringing in a new play-caller.

The offense needs to change, and fast. The Tigers were outgained by the Nittany Lions by 131 total yards. They also ran the ball for only 43 yards on the day. That is not good enough to compete with any high-level FBS program. Either Riley needs to find a way to evolve the offense, or it might be time for Swinney to find someone new to lead it.

Will Heldt and Sammy Brown Will Anchor the Defense

Even in the cold New York winter weather, Heldt and Brown continued to put the defense on their shoulders. Both players were a huge factor in holding the Penn State offense to just six points in the first half. Brown made big plays in the red zone that prevented Penn State from scoring. He finished the day with 14 total tackles and half of a tackle for loss.

Heldt was the only one in the starting defensive line group from the regular season playing in the Pinstripe Bowl. It showed in his consistency throughout the game, as he racked up eight total tackles and half of a tackle for loss.

These two players coming back in 2026 will be huge for Clemson. There will be a lot of holes to fill for that unit in the offseason. Having the two best players from this season back will give Tom Allen two reliable leaders to set the tone for next season.

Dabo Swinney Must Invest in the Transfer Portal

There hasn’t been a better time than this offseason for Swinney to invest heavily in the transfer portal. He brought in three transfers this season that have all been able to make an impact this season for his team. Going into 2026, though, it’s time for him to dive all the way in.

Clemson has question marks at nearly every position. There are some highly talented recruits coming in and some good young players on the roster. However, this is not enough to create the depth needed for the Tigers to compete at the highest level. Bringing in some proven players at positions like quarterback, defensive line, and safety is what this team needs.

The defense gave up 397 total yards, and the offense converted on just five third downs against a depleted Penn State team. That should tell Swinney it’s time to change his approach to the portal a bit. Over the next few days, Swinney needs to get a plan together to attack the portal harder than he ever has.