Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer led the Nittany Lions to a Pinstripe Bowl win. Now, he has to decide if he's entering the transfer portal.

See why Penn State football and new head coach Matt Campbell must try to keep these nine young players in 2026.

Grunkemeyer will lead the Nittany Lions against Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. The quarterback is still working on what happens after that.

Campbell and his Iowa State staff recruited Grunkemeyer out of high school before he ended up choosing Penn State. The Ohio natives have reconnected in the last week and a half in multiple meetings.

Penn State and head coach Matt Campbell must still fill out his staff. The transfer portal also opens on Jan. 2, when many Nittany Lions could enter the portal, and many future Nittany Lions could start finding their way to Happy Valley. A second national signing period for high school prospects also comes in February.

With all the movement in college football — especially at the quarterback position — there was suspicion as the 2025 season unfolded that Penn State’s starter for 2026 was not on its roster. Ethan Grunkemeyer accounted himself well during his six-game window that included a three-game win streak heading into Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson