Sunday Column: Seasons Don’t Get Messier Than Penn State’s 2025. But These Lions Didn’t Lose Their Pride.

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This was, to put it mildly, an emotional year for Penn State football fans.

I won’t pretend that I can list all of those emotions nor the depths of them here, but for most of you, it probably went something like this: The excitement of lofty preseason expectations in August turned to nervousness during sloppy performances in September turned to a strange blend of anger, disbelief and shock went it all went into the toilet in October turned to an admiration of how the Lions regrouped in November.

Saturday’s outdoor hockey game in the world’s most famed baseball stadium no doubt elicited some mixed emotions, too, bringing the past and the future of Penn State football into simultaneous focus even as the present-day Lions played one of their most complete games of the season, shutting down a similarly shorthanded group of Clemson Tigers, 22-10.

There was a sense of appreciation for the guys who stayed steady all season as many of their teammates (and coaches) crumbled down around them. Trebor Pena, the game’s MVP, finished off a strong second half of the season with a 100-yard performance and the game’s first touchdown. Dani Dennis-Sutton, who had more reasons to not play in this game than most of his teammates who opted out, was a customary terror in the Tigers’ backfield. Gabe Nwosu and Ryan Barker, unsung heroes all season, flipped the field and cashed in on field-goal tries, respectively, during an afternoon not designed for kicking the football. And Terry Smith much more on him in a bit — had his guys ready to go, just as he had in each game since he took over from James Franklin two-plus months ago.

There was a sense of hope, lined with a tinge of fear, regarding the young players who might or might not be in a Nittany Lion uniform next season. Ethan Grunkemeyer scarcely resembled the uncertain player we saw in his first couple of starts, throwing into tight windows with confidence and zip on the ball. Andrew Rappaleya had a big play wiped out by a penalty but once again looked like he could be a comfortable presence for Grunk or any other QB in 2026. Defensive backs Daryus Dixson and Dejuan Lane, given more opportunity by virtue of veterans A.J. Harris and Zakee Wheatley choosing not to play, made plays all over the defensive backfield, while running backs Quinton Martin, Corey Smith and Tikey Hayes, finally given the chance to play with Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen on the sidelines, combined for 136 yards and plenty of juice behind a pieced-together offensive line.

And it wouldn’t have been a 2025 Penn State football game without some frustration, too, whether that was in the form of a few more head-shaking calls by Andy Kotelnicki in the low red zone, Luke Reynolds blowing a block literally as analyst Dusty Dvoracek was singing the tight ends’ praises on the broadcast, or simply the sobering knowledge that this team showed Saturday, as it did during several points in the second half of the season, that it was capable of playing much better ball than it had in the first half.

This is where we must return to Smith, who improved to 4-3 as interim head coach in his last game at the helm before he joins Matt Campbell’s new staff. If it wasn’t clear by the players’ and fellow coaches’ reactions in those earlier wins how much they respected and wanted these wins for the letterman and longtime assistant, it was obvious Saturday, both by with the energy that the players took onto the field and by how many hugs and back pats Smith received along the sideline in the game’s final minutes. Emotion can only get you so far in this game — you still need strength, speed, timing, technique, and a whole bunch of luck — but it can be a galvanizing factor, moreso in football than in most team sports, and especially when you have a bunch of talented kids who knew they hadn’t been playing to their potential. Smith pressed all the right buttons to motivate and inspire while still keeping an eye on the execution piece, and as a result the Lions were able to salvage about as much satisfaction from an ultimately lost season as was possible.

How much will these positive emotions and the mostly positive on-field performances matter going forward, as Campbell begins his evaluation of the roster in its current state (and the NIL coffers) and the portal opens? Time will tell, but all else equal, if you’re going to play out a lost season, why not try to make a postseason game? And if you’re going to choose to play one (glares toward South Bend), why not use that opportunity to build some momentum for the players (and potential recruits) and maybe reclaim some goodwill from the fans? Smith made sure none of those opportunities, whatever they were worth, went to waste, and added another piece to his already strong program legacy in the process.

Certainly, the Bronx was not where this team expected to be finishing its season when it began preseason camp. But it wasn’t expecting to be getting to know a new coach during the holidays, either. If the past four months can serve as a reminder going forward for everyone — players, coaches and yes, fans too — it’s that what a team looks like on paper means precisely nothing, that every win must be earned, and that emotional vibes can be just as important as film study or how much a player has in his bank account, then this lost season just might not have been a complete disaster after all.