You obviously can't pin a loss on just one person, but goodness, the Clemson offense looked anemic on Saturday in the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Penn State. We hate to single someone out, but just what in the heck was Garrett Riley thinking from start to finish in this showdown at Yankee Stadium?
Clemson fans don't want to wish Garrett Riley a Happy New Year
The Clemson offense could not get into any kind of a rhythm and late in the action, there was no miracle finish for the Tigers, who have officially closed out the season with a 7-6 record. This was not what anyone was expecting out of Dabo Swinney and his team for the 2025 campaign.
Clemson fans are livid with Garrett Riley after the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Penn State
Penn State finished with 398 total yards, while the Nittany Lions defense kept Clemson to 236 total yards. The aerial attack never took off and the ground game struggled too. Riley didn't make any adjustments and fans bashing him started early and it never slowed down during the action. With Clemson losing 22-10, people are making it clear they want him gone.
Absolutely embarrassing. Leave Garrett Riley in New York https://t.co/wvG0oqk5mX
— Cam (@clemsoncam) December 27, 2025
That’s was likely the dagger, because I have no confidence in Garrett Riley as a play-caller with that quarterback.
— Jared Feinberg (@Jared_NFLDraft) December 27, 2025
Dabo Swinney has to get out of his comfort zone and for all that is holy get with the times. https://t.co/wfD1feOTmq
Garrett Riley is a 7 on 7 coach !
— TRACY WATSON (@twatson006) December 27, 2025
Fire Garrett Riley
— Spiller’s Turf Toe (@SpillerToe403) December 27, 2025
I look forward to a lot of offseason changes and never to see Garrett Riley again👍
— CasualTiger🐅 (@ThatCasualTiger) December 27, 2025
If Garrett Riley is back next year it’s gonna end up with Dabo leaving within the next 2 years.
— Adam (@adamdropsbombs) December 27, 2025
I mean there’s just zero chance Garrett Riley has a job at Clemson come NYE right?
— Clemson Addict (10-3, 0-0) (@Clemson_Addict) December 27, 2025
When it comes to Riley's play-calling, things have just been way too vanilla for far too long. Plenty of people are convinced that he's been holding this team back. Is this something that Dabo is noticing too, or is he going to give him one more go as OC next season?
If it's the latter, we don't have to tell you that the Clemson fanbase is going to be quite disappointed. Riley was linked to the head coach opening at Coastal Carolina earlier this year, which was a bit of a surprise. He obviously didn't land that job.
Will he even have a job by the end of the week? That is totally up in the air right now. Swinney is going to have to make some tough decisions moving forward, as 7-win seasons are not going to cut it for the Tigers. This could lead to him making a change or two with his staff and potentially replacing his OC might end up being a move he decides needs to be made.