With the Pinstripe Bowl just around the corner, Penn State is navigating a familiar December challenge: managing roster turnover while trying to stay locked in for a postseason showdown. The Nittany Lions are set to face Clemson on Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium, and as of now, five Penn State players have officially opted out of the game - with the door still open for more changes in the days ahead.
Interim head coach Terry Smith addressed the situation during a recent media availability, confirming that while the team is still practicing with a full group, they’re taking things “day by day.” Translation: the roster you see today might not be the same one that takes the field in the Bronx.
“We’ve got four guys that have opted out of the game, plus one more,” Smith said. “That’s all that are confirmed right now.”
The matchup itself pits two traditional powers with very different seasons behind them. Clemson enters the bowl at 7-5, while Penn State sits at 6-6. Kickoff is scheduled for noon on ABC, but the real story right now is who will - and won’t - be suiting up.
Clemson is already dealing with a significant talent drain, with 27 scholarship players unavailable due to a mix of injuries and opt-outs - including eight starters from their regular-season finale win over South Carolina. That’s a major hit to any team’s depth chart. Penn State’s opt-out count is far lower, but the names involved still carry weight.
Among the confirmed opt-outs for the Nittany Lions: standout guard Vega Ioane, safety Zakee Wheatley, defensive tackle Zane Durant, running back Nick Singleton, and cornerback Elliot Washington II.
Singleton’s absence is arguably the biggest blow. The sophomore running back was a key piece of the offense, finishing second on the team with 549 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
He also chipped in 219 receiving yards and a score through the air, showcasing his versatility as a dual-threat weapon. Losing that kind of production changes the complexion of the offense in a hurry.
Ioane, a force on the offensive line, earned All-American recognition this season and was a key part of Penn State’s run game. On defense, Wheatley was second on the team in tackles with 74, Durant brought interior pressure with four sacks and an interception, and Washington added a pick of his own from the secondary. Each of these players contributed in meaningful ways throughout the year - and their absence will be felt.
And it’s not just opt-outs shaping the roster. EDGE rusher Chaz Coleman, one of Penn State’s most promising young defenders, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Coleman earned Midseason True Freshman All-American honors and showed real flashes off the edge - his departure further thins a defensive front that’s already adjusting on the fly.
Smith emphasized that the staff is approaching each player’s situation individually. Some veterans may still play but could be on limited snap counts as the coaching staff balances the desire to win with the long-term health and development of the roster.
“Each kid is a case-by-case basis,” Smith said. “You want to play your veteran guys, but you don’t want to put them in jeopardy.
You want to see your young guys participate. Ultimately, we want to win the football game.”
One name notably not on the opt-out list - at least for now - is Kaytron Allen. The sophomore running back led the team with 1,303 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns this season. If he’s available and ready to go, Allen could be the focal point of the offense against a depleted Clemson defense.
As bowl prep ramps up, both teams are dealing with the fluid nature of modern college football - opt-outs, transfer portal departures, and injury management all play a role in shaping who actually takes the field. For Penn State, the message from Smith is clear: whoever shows up in New York, they’re expected to be ready.
“You’re either in or you’re out,” he said. “The people who are going to show up in New York, we’re going to be prepared and ready to go win the game.”
The Pinstripe Bowl might not have College Football Playoff stakes, but for the players still suiting up - and the programs looking to end the year on a high note - there’s plenty on the line.