As Clemson gears up for its Pinstripe Bowl clash with Penn State at Yankee Stadium next weekend, the Tigers are deep into bowl prep mode - and so is offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, who’s back on the field after a whirlwind few weeks off it.
Riley’s name surfaced in a pair of recent head coaching searches, including North Texas and Coastal Carolina, but both programs ultimately went in different directions. That’s left Riley right where he’s been for the past few seasons: calling plays in orange and white.
His contract runs through 2028, but whether he’s still in Clemson long-term remains to be seen. For now, though, his focus is locked in on finishing strong.
Meeting with reporters for the first time since the end of the regular season, Riley didn’t shy away from the chaos that tends to swirl around college football this time of year.
“It’s a wild time for everybody,” he said. “I feel like I’m almost just used to it … You just have to take it day-by-day with everything in this job.”
That steady mindset is helping him guide a Clemson offense that’s been working through a mix of injuries and shifting personnel during bowl practices. But Riley sees the silver lining - especially when it comes to the development of younger players.
One of those young standouts? Freshman wide receiver Juju Preston. With reps opening up in practice, Preston has taken full advantage.
“He’s done a great job of just adapting and getting totally engrained with what we do and what his job is,” Riley said. “The technique, the assignments … he’s improved quickly.”
The extra practice time in December is a known benefit of bowl season, and Riley is leaning into that - not just for development, but also to install a few new wrinkles as Clemson preps for the Nittany Lions.
“We’ve been able to experiment a little bit,” he said, hinting at some “fun bowl stuff” the Tigers might have in their back pocket.
Of course, the quarterback situation remains a central storyline. Riley confirmed that he “absolutely” expects Cade Klubnik to be healthy enough for the bowl game, despite the junior missing some practice time since the South Carolina win. But all eyes are also on Christopher Vizzina, who made his first career start against SMU and could be in line for a bigger role moving forward.
“We’ll certainly evaluate everything as our season finishes,” Riley said. “I think [Vizzina] has done a good job of consistently improving and maturing - doing all of the things that you would anticipate a quarterback is going to do as he goes through a program, especially a program like Clemson.”
Riley made it clear that, despite the offseason buzz, his commitment remains with the Tigers - at least for now.
“This is an unbelievable place to work, to live,” he said. “Certainly didn’t have the season that we all wanted, but sometimes that’s sports. I know there are decisions to be made and all of that stuff big-picture wise, but I’m telling you, my whole focus is being here and being the best I can for our staff and players.”
Part of that focus includes game-planning for a Penn State defense that brings plenty of challenges. Riley pointed to the Nittany Lions’ ability to disguise coverages in the secondary and their knack for getting after the quarterback as key concerns heading into the matchup.
Fortunately, Clemson has a new resource on hand in Tom Allen - the former Indiana head coach who’s now on staff and brings valuable insight into Penn State’s personnel from his time in the Big Ten.
Away from the Xs and Os, Riley said the bowl prep period has a summer-camp feel. With classes out, players are spending more time around the facility - and each other. Earlier this week, the team took a bonding trip to Greenville for laser tag and go-karts, a break from the grind that also builds chemistry.
And for Riley, this bowl game carries a bit of emotional weight. It could be the final outing with Cade Klubnik, the quarterback he’s coached throughout his Clemson tenure.
“Definitely have a special bond with that kid,” Riley said. “Been through a lot with him … You’re certainly doing things to hold on as long as you can, really value that time.”
As the Tigers head into the final stretch of the season, there’s still plenty to play for - not just a win over Penn State, but also momentum heading into 2026, and maybe a glimpse at what the next chapter of Clemson’s offense could look like.