Clemson teased over fake punt miscue
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The Clemson Tigers finished the 2025 season on a sour note.
Clemson faced the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon, drawing mockery on social media for a failed fake punt attempt.
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Jack Smith, player #89 of the Clemson Tigers, reacts to a second-half play against the Duke Blue Devils at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, on November 1, 2025. (Cory Knowlton/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
The Tigers tried some tricks at the end of their first drive. Punter Jack Smith took the kick and tried to throw the ball deep. The intended target, Ronan Hanafin, was not looking at the ball when the pass was passed to him.
College football fans mocked Clemson for the play.
It was a tough day for the Tigers from then on. Penn State led 6-3 at halftime and Clemson scored just once in the second half.
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Penn State linebacker Jaylen Harvey (44) sacks Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) during the first half of the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Man Hunger)
The Nittany Lions scored 16 points in the fourth quarter to help win the game 22-10.
Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer threw a 73-yard pass to Trebor Peña and then an 11-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Rappleyea.
The redshirt freshman, who had to start seven games this season due to an injured Drew Allar, was 23-of-34 for 262 passing yards. Penn State won its last three games to earn a bowl berth and finished the year with a 7-6 record as winners of the last four games.
The Matt Campbell era will begin from here.
Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer (17) lifts the trophy after defeating Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Man Hunger)
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Questions about Dabo Swinney’s future are swirling and will continue to swirl after a disappointing season. Clemson won its final four regular season games to qualify for the bowl. However, the Tigers were ranked No. 4 in the country to begin the season.
