Ethan Grunkemeyer Shines in Pinstripe Bowl, Faces Big Decision on Future at Penn State
NEW YORK - After leading Penn State to a 22-10 win over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl, redshirt freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer stood just outside the Yankees’ clubhouse, soaking in the moment. The game was over, the win secured, and the questions about his future came quickly.
But for now? Grunkemeyer just wanted to enjoy the ride - literally.
“I’m just going to enjoy this one on the bus ride back with the guys,” he said with a 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 is the question that now looms large.
The transfer portal opens on January 2, and quarterbacks across the country have already started declaring their intentions. Grunkemeyer, fresh off a strong performance and a four-game winning streak to close the season, has a decision to make: stay in Happy Valley and compete for the starting job under new head coach Matt Campbell, or explore his options elsewhere.
He hasn’t set a timeline yet. There are conversations to be had - with his family, his representatives, and importantly, with Campbell and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser. Grunkemeyer made it clear that he wants to understand exactly where he stands in the new regime and whether the fit is still right for him.
“It’s been hectic,” he admitted, juggling the uncertainty with prepping for a bowl game. But on the field, there was no sign of distraction.
Against Clemson, Grunkemeyer looked poised and polished. He completed 23 of 34 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns, showing off the kind of command and confidence that’s hard to teach - especially in a redshirt freshman. It was a fitting exclamation point to a season that started with him on the bench and ended with him as the face of a team on the rise.
This wasn’t how the 2025 season was supposed to go for Grunkemeyer. He entered the year as Drew Allar’s backup, expecting to learn from the sideline while Penn State chased a Big Ten title. But when Allar went down with a season-ending injury during the loss to Northwestern - a game that also marked the end of James Franklin’s tenure - everything changed.
Suddenly, Grunkemeyer was the guy. And the schedule didn’t do him any favors.
He was thrown into the fire against Iowa, then had to face top-ranked Ohio State on the road and second-ranked Indiana at home. The results were mixed, as you’d expect from a first-time starter in that kind of gauntlet. But the experience was invaluable.
By the time November rolled around, Grunkemeyer had settled in. He led the Nittany Lions to wins over Michigan State, Nebraska and Rutgers, completing nearly 80% of his passes over that stretch with four touchdowns and no picks.
The game slowed down. His reads got sharper.
His confidence grew.
“I could feel myself trending in the right direction,” he said. And that trend continued in the Bronx.
Now, Grunkemeyer finds himself in a fascinating position. He’s young.
He’s talented. He’s got seven starts under his belt and three years of eligibility left.
That’s a rare combination, and it makes him one of the more intriguing potential quarterbacks in the portal - if he chooses to enter.
Plenty of programs are in need of a quarterback, including a few in the Big Ten. Nebraska and Michigan State are both looking for new starters.
Cincinnati, which could appeal to Grunkemeyer as an Ohio native, is in the market too. Iowa State is also in need after Rocco Becht entered the portal - and if Becht ends up following Campbell to Penn State, that could complicate things for Grunkemeyer.
So the decision becomes: stay and compete for the job in a new system under a new staff, or take advantage of his rising stock and find a program where he could walk in as the clear No. 1?
Grunkemeyer isn’t rushing the process, but he knows what he’s looking for.
“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. Either way, the next few days will be telling.
For now, Grunkemeyer is enjoying the win, the ride home, and the moment. The future can wait - but not for long.