Mercifully, the worst season in Penn State history concludes today with an appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson (noon, ABC).

Neither team will be at anything close to full strength so it’s difficult to measure an expectation.

Both were ranked in the Associated Press preseason top five – the Nittany Lions at No. 2, Clemson at No. 4 – and ended ranked as the country’s two biggest disappointments.

Penn State needed a three-game winning streak after the firing of James Franklin to finish 6-6 while Clemson won its last four to get to 7-5.

Opt-outs are a big part of the bowl season, especially for teams not in the College Football Playoff, and Clemson coach Dabo Swinney disclosed Friday that his team has 21 players unavailable for various reasons – injuries, opt-outs and transfers.

“It certainly creates a ton of opportunity,” he said.

Penn State’s list is not quite that high, but it includes a few of its more prominent players – Nick Singleton, Zane Durant, Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins, Khalil Dinkins, Todd Rucci and Zakee Wheatley as well as some other regulars (A.J. Harris, Elliot Washington, Zuriah Fisher) who have elected to transfer.

One promising freshman linebacker, Alex Tasch, impressed down the stretch but is not available today due to injury.

Two of the Lions’ top players – draft prospects Dani Dennis-Sutton and Kaytron Allen — are with the team, but interim coach Terry Smith on Friday sounded like their snaps will be managed.

He termed their status only as “dressed and available.”

“Each kid is a case-by-case basis,” he said. “The challenge is you want to play your veteran guys, you want to give them the snaps they need, but you do not want to put them in jeopardy. You want to see your young guys participate, and ultimately we want to win the football game.”

Smith mentioned running-back options as Corey Smith, Quentin Martin and Cam Wallace.

“I anticipate all of those guys getting a shot to carry the ball and having the opportunity to make a claim for themselves to who’s going to be the lead back going into 2026,” he said.

Each should be fresh since Smith and Wallace combined for just 11 carries. Martin didn’t carry the ball or a catch a pass this season.

The O-line, with a new center (Dominic Rulli) and inexperienced starters, “will have a next-man-up mentality,” Smith said.

And yet, with Ethan Grunkemeyer and the Lions’ top receivers, the offense would seem to enter this game with fewer questions than the defense.

Coordinator Jim Knowles, as ineffective as he was, is gone to Tennessee. That leaves Anthony Poindexter to call the defense. He’s served as bowl coordinator twice before, and the Lions are 0-2 in those games (Peach Bowl vs. Ole Miss in 2023, Outback Bowl vs. Arkansas in 2022).

New PSU coach Matt Campbell has hired several of his Iowa State assistant coaches, but questions on the defensive staff – he has yet to name a coordinator – remain.

Defensive line coach Deion Barnes is moving to South Carolina, but will coach in this game, along with running backs coach Stan Drayton, who is also headed to South Carolina.

The status of Poindexter and linebackers coach Dan Connor has not yet been clarified.

Smith is trying to focus on the present. Since he took over for Franklin on Oct. 12, his goal has been to finish strong and keep the Lions in contention for a bowl game.

“We have an opportunity to win four games in a row, and we’re looking forward to it,” he said. “The guys are excited, and one of my messages the entire time I’ve been as the interim is keep the main thing the main thing. And that’s just playing ball and having fun playing ball. And that’s the approach we’re taking toward the bowl.”

While Clemson has a depleted roster, it does have its top quarterback, Cade Klubnik, a three-year starter who entered the season a Heisman Trophy candidate.

SUBHD: Notable …

N Smith said Campbell will perform “some media obligations” during the game, rather than spend much time on the sidelines.

N Snow is in the forecast, but Smith said it’s not a factor. “We’re from the north,” he said.

N The teams have met just once, with Clemson winning 35-10 in the 1988 Citrus Bowl. Penn State. The game was a prelude to a 5-6 season, Penn State’s first losing season since 1938 and Joe Paterno’s first sub-.500 year.

N Penn State will wear its “Generation of Greatness” (blue) uniforms.

N The Lions’ 33 bowl victories (bowls and CFP) are fourth nationally and first among Big Ten teams.

N As far as a prediction, with all the moving parts, players and staffs, it’s difficult to make a case for either team, and it can’t end in a tie. So we’ll pick the Nits by a field goal – 20-17.

Neil Rudel can be reached at nrudel@altoonamirror.com.

PSU (6-6) vs. Clemson (7-5)

What: Pinstripe Bowl

Kickoff: Noon

TV: ABC

Odds: Clemson is a 3.5-point favorite.