Ethan Grunkemeyer Leaves Pinstripe Bowl Victorious-and with a Big Decision Looming
NEW YORK - As the snowflakes settled over Yankee Stadium and Penn State celebrated a 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl, Ethan Grunkemeyer stood outside the Yankees’ clubhouse, finally letting a smile break through after a long season and a longer week.
The redshirt freshman quarterback had just wrapped up a strong performance in one of college football’s more unique venues. But the real question wasn’t about what just happened-it’s about what comes next.
Grunkemeyer, who stepped into the spotlight midway through the season, now stands at a crossroads. With the transfer portal set to open on January 2, he has just days to decide whether he’ll remain in Happy Valley or explore a new opportunity elsewhere.
For now, though, he’s choosing to live in the moment.
“I’m just going to enjoy this one on the bus ride back with the guys,” Grunkemeyer said, flashing that long-awaited grin. “That’s what I’m looking forward to. Just going back and spending time with them on the bus.”
Whether that ride back to State College was his last as a Nittany Lion remains to be seen.
A Season That Took a Turn-and a Quarterback Who Stepped Up
Grunkemeyer’s 262-yard, two-touchdown showing against Clemson was more than just a nice finish-it was the latest chapter in a season that turned sharply in his direction. He completed 23 of 34 passes, good for a 67.6% clip, and looked every bit the part of a quarterback who’s grown into the role.
That wasn’t the original plan. Grunkemeyer entered 2025 as the backup to Drew Allar, expecting to spend most of the year learning from the sideline. But when Allar went down with a season-ending injury during a loss to Northwestern-a game that also marked the end of James Franklin’s tenure-everything changed.
Suddenly, Grunkemeyer was the guy. And he was thrown into the fire immediately, facing a brutal three-game stretch: at Iowa, at No.
1 Ohio State, and then home against No. 2 Indiana.
It was a trial by fire for a young quarterback, and while the results were mixed, the experience was invaluable.
He didn’t light up the stat sheet early, but the growth was real. And down the stretch, it showed.
In wins over Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers, Grunkemeyer completed over 78% of his passes, threw for 517 yards, four touchdowns, and-perhaps most importantly-no interceptions. He found a rhythm, and Penn State found momentum, closing the season on a four-game winning streak.
“There’s been a ton of growth,” Grunkemeyer said. “And I’m excited to have that carry into the offseason… Want to keep it rolling and keep that trajectory high.”
The Portal Awaits-But So Does Opportunity
With the portal window about to swing open, Grunkemeyer has a decision to make. He said after the game that there’s no set timeline yet. He plans to talk with his parents, his agents, and with Penn State’s new head coach Matt Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser to figure out where he stands.
In other words, there are still a lot of conversations to be had.
“It’s been hectic,” Grunkemeyer admitted, juggling the weight of that decision while prepping for the bowl game. But if the pressure got to him, he didn’t show it on the field.
Now, he’s a quarterback with legitimate tape, seven starts under his belt, and three years of eligibility remaining. That’s a rare combination-and one that’s sure to make him a hot commodity if he enters the portal.
Programs across the country are already scrambling to fill quarterback vacancies. In the Big Ten alone, Nebraska and Michigan State are both losing their starters.
Cincinnati, close to Grunkemeyer’s Ohio roots, could be another intriguing fit. And Iowa State is in the mix too, now searching for a new QB after Rocco Becht hit the portal.
There’s even the possibility that Becht could follow Campbell to Penn State, which would complicate the picture for Grunkemeyer. Does he stay and battle for the starting job, knowing there could be stiff competition? Or does he take advantage of the momentum he’s built and look for a fresh start where he can lead from day one?
The Decision Ahead
Grunkemeyer isn’t tipping his hand just yet. But he knows what he wants.
“High-character staff. Somewhere that’s going to develop me to be the best player possible,” he said. “(I’m) working to try to find a place that’s going to be best for me.”
That place might still be Penn State. It might not be.
What’s clear is that Grunkemeyer has earned the right to make that decision from a position of strength. He didn’t just survive his first season as a starter-he got better, week by week, and helped turn around a team that looked lost in mid-October.
Now, he’s got options. And soon, we’ll find out whether that bus ride through the Bronx was just the end of the season-or the end of an era.