Scouting Report – Penn State Nittany Lions

Bowl season. It’s hard to tell what exactly you are going to get in these games with opt-outs, new faces getting playing time, questions of motivation, etc. This preview is of the full Penn State team’s 2025 season. So, let’s take it with a grain of salt and take it from what it arguably is… the first game/preview of the 2026 season

PENN ST. OFFENSE

• Total Offense: 359.1 ypg
  
• Scoring Offense: 31.3 ppg
  
• Total Turnovers: 10 (3 lost fumbles + 7 INTs)
  
• TFL Allowed: 4.75 per game
  
• EPA Margin: 0.117 — 24th nationally — very good; success rates are roughly equal between dropback and rush
  
• Passing Game:
  
  • 181.6 passing ypg
    
  • 203/304 (66.8%) — 14 TD / 7 INT
    
  • 7.2 YPA
    
  • 17 sacks allowed, 1.42 per game — same as Clemson
    
• Starting QB — Ethan Grunkemeyer
  
  • 100/144 (69.4%), 1,079 yards, 6 TD, 4 INT, 141 rating
    
  • Accurate rhythm thrower, but inexperienced; high sack/INT exposure when pressured
    
• Leading Receiver — WR Trebor Peña
  
  • 44 catches — 452 yards — 10.3 YPC — 1 TD
    
• Rushing Game:
  
  • 177.5 rushing ypg
    
  • 4.9 ypc
    
  • 30 rushing TDs (elite situational and red zone run game)
    
• Leading Rusher — Kaytron Allen
  
  • 210 carries — 1,303 yards — 6.2 YPC — 15 TD
    
    

Offensive Summary

Penn State is a run-first offense anchored by Kaytron Allen’s efficiency and volume. Their passing game is controlled and short/intermediate

with Grunkemeyer, who is accurate but prone to sacks and negative plays when pressured. The run-heavy profile leads to a very strong red zone offense (89%), as PSU prefers gap-scheme power runs near the goal line.

Explosive plays through the air are limited; only one WR exceeds 450 yards.

→ Clemson Strategy: Defending Penn State’s Offense

• Sell out to stop the run — PSU’s offense is dependent on Allen’s early-down efficiency
  
• Force true dropbacks — Grunkemeyer’s sack rate and INT rate increase sharply
  
• Use coverage rotation to disrupt pre-snap reads for a young QB
  
• Bracket Tyler Peña on 3rd downs; force PSU to throw to secondary options
  
• When Penn State is forced to pass, tackling will be at a premium.
  

DEFENSE

• Total Defense: 359.1 ypg
  
• TFL: 6.1 per game
  
• Scoring Defense: 21 PPG allowed
  
• Turnovers Forced: 7 fumbles, 6 INT, 1.1 turnovers per game — not adept at taking the ball away
  
• EPA Margin: -0.0417 — 47th nationally — good; a little more successful vs the pass than the run
  
• Pass Defense:
  
  • 183 ypg allowed
    
  • Strong pass rush (Dennis-Sutton 6.5 sacks, Durant 4 sacks)
    
  • Sacks: 2.3 per game
    
• Run Defense:
  
  • 151 ypg allowed — mid nationally
    

Defensive Summary

Penn State’s defense is built around disruption — TFLs, penetration, and aggressive linebacker play. They excel at stopping inside run concepts and generating backfield pressure.

Pass coverage is good but not elite; big plays can be hit when protections hold.

→ Clemson Strategy: Attacking Penn State’s Defense

• Stretch them horizontally (perimeter runs, bubbles, outside zone) to neutralize downhill LBs
  
• RPO and play-action are highly effective versus PSU’s aggressive safeties/LBs
  
• Hit intermediate middle routes (glance/dig/seam) where PSU has been most vulnerable
  
• Use tempo to prevent PSU from subbing its DL — they wear down across long drives
  
• Avoid predictable inside runs — PSU’s biggest strength is interior penetration
  
  

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Kicking: K Ryan Barker (no relation) — 43/44 PAT, 15/16 FG (93.8%), long 49
  
• Punting: P Gabe Nwosu — 46 yard average, 42.3 yard net, long 49
  

Special Teams Summary

Reliable kicker inside 50 yards and 13th nationally in net punting.

→ Clemson Strategy: Special Teams

• Force PSU into 50+ yard FGs — their only miss is from distance
  
• Field position battle favors Penn State if punting is executed cleanly
  

SITUATIONAL METRICS

• Red Zone Offense: 89% (41st nationally) — driven by rushing efficiency; PSU is very good at finishing drives
  
• Red Zone Defense: 84% (73rd nationally) — below average — opponents convert frequently once inside the 20
  
• 3rd Down Offense: 42% — average — PSU is functional but not elite
  
• 3rd Down Defense: 42% allowed (93rd nationally) — major defensive weakness — opponents sustain drives at a high rate
  
• 4th Down Offense: 63% — T10th nationally in attempts — highly aggressive
  
• Penalties: 50 for 450 yards (37 ypg) — shows good team discipline
  
• Turnover Margin: +3
  
• Time of Possession: 29:12 per game — 92nd nationally: poor time of possession despite a very strong running game

Situational Summary

Penn State is highly effective finishing offensive drives but very weak in preventing opponents from doing the same. Their 3rd down defense is a major liability (93rd nationally) and does not possess the ball very long.

PSU is extremely aggressive on 4th down and well above average at succeeding (63%), especially across midfield.

→ Clemson Strategy: Situational Focus

• Exploit PSU’s 3rd-down defense — target intermediate routes; stay ahead of the chains
  
• Finish drives — PSU’s red zone defense is vulnerable
  
• Expect 4th-down aggression — PSU will go for it near midfield and in the red zone
  
• Defensively: win early downs to force PSU into pass-heavy situations with a young QB. The Tiger’s success rates on 3rd and 4th down is 31% — this is 8th nationally.
  
• Control tempo & possession to reduce PSU’s rushing opportunities
  
• The offense needs to win on early downs. EPA here is modest, but 3rd/4th down success rates is downright bad (39%, 95th nationally). Luckily, Penn State’s early down defense is modest and 3rd/4th down success rate is poor (42%, 82nd nationally)
  

FINAL CLEMSON PRIORITIES

Areas Clemson Should Attack

1. Penn State’s 3rd-down defense (41.6%, 93rd)
   
2. Horizontal stretch concepts vs PSU’s downhill LBs
   
3. Red zone defense weakness (84.1%, 73rd)
   

Areas Clemson Must Defend Against

1. Kaytron Allen in the Nittany Lion run game — the foremost threat
   
2. PSU’s red zone rushing (30 TDs)
   
3. 4th-down offensive aggression

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