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Nittany Lions Finish 2025 Campaign Against Tigers (Pinstripe Bowl Preview)

Clemson (7-5, 4-4 ACC) vs. Penn State (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten)

Date: Saturday, December 27

Time (EST): 12:00 PM

Location: Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)

  • Average Pinstripe Bowl Attendance (all-time): 37,536.64

  • Highest Pinstripe Bowl Attendance (all-time): 49,012 (Dec. 27, 2014, Penn State vs. Boston College)

  • Football Game Capacity: 54,251

Coverage


Opt-Outs (as of December 24)

Clemson

  • FS Khalil Barnes (transfer portal)

  • LB Jamal Anderson (transfer portal)

  • LB Dee Crayton (transfer portal)

  • DT DeMonte Capehart (undisclosed)

  • DT Peter Woods (NFL Draft)

  • DE T.J. Parker (NFL Draft)

  • CB Avieon Terrell (NFL Draft)

  • WR Antonio Williams (NFL Draft)

  • LB Wade Woodaz (surgery)

Penn State

  • DE Zuriah Fisher (no longer on the roster)

  • OL Olaivavega Ioane (NFL Draft)

  • RB Nicholas Singleton (NFL Draft)

  • FS Zakee Wheatley (NFL Draft)

  • DT Zane Durant (NFL Draft)

  • CB A.J. Harris (transfer portal)

  • DE Chaz Coleman (transfer portal)

  • CB Elliot Washington II (transfer portal)


Storylines

Tale of the Tape: Right Matchup, Wrong Bowl

In preseason CFP projections, some ESPN analysts had these two teams going as far as the semifinals in seed order to face off.


With disappointing seasons beyond the wildest dreams of many, however, Penn State and Clemson will now battle for the George M. Steinbrenner Trophy on the final Saturday of 2025.


Klubnik Shares Thumb Injury Update

Starting quarterback Cade Klubnik said that the thumb on his throwing hand was “dang near hundred percent” following practice last Wednesday.


The three-year starting signal-caller hurt his thumb during the 28-14 win over South Carolina back in November, but that looks to no longer play a factor heading into Saturday.


Source: MSN


Two Former Cyclone Commits Flip to Penn State

The beginning of the Matt Campbell era in Happy Valley has ushered in the commitments of two former Iowa State recruits in Bill Eglitis and Mason Bandhauer.


Both are just two of the new flipped commits as part of the 2026 class, being rated as three-star offensive linemen.



The Head-to-Head History of Clemson-Penn State

Penn State is 0-1 against Clemson all-time. Their lone meeting was on January 1, 1988, when Clemson beat Penn State 35-10 in the Florida Citrus Bowl.


Clemson is 5-2 against Big Ten teams in bowl games. Their last meeting of this kind was on January 1, 2021, when Ohio State beat Clemson 49-28 in the CFP Semifinal at the Sugar Bowl.


Penn State is 3-1 against ACC teams in bowl games. Their last meeting of this kind was on December 27, 2014, when Penn State beat Boston College 31-30 F/OT in the Pinstripe Bowl.

Source: Winsipedia


Clemson vs. Penn State: By The Numbers

Clemson

Offense

Penn State

28.7

Points Per Game

30.4

274.0

Pass Yards Per Game

178.9

131.3

Rush Yards Per Game

159.9

34.38%

3rd Down %

42.52%

15 (1.25)

Turnovers (per game)

10 (1.00)


Clemson

Defense

Penn State

20.4

Points Allowed PG

21.1

250.5

Pass Yards Allowed PG

167.7

102.8

Rush Yards Allowed PG

148.4

29.19%

Opponent 3rd Down %

39.85%

17 (1.42)

Takeaways (per game)

12 (1.20)


Players To Watch on Offense

Clemson (Air Raid Offense)

  • QB Cade Klubnik, Sr.

    • Accepted his invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl

    • Overall (11 games)

      • Passing: 235-for-353, 2,750 yds, 16 TD, 6 INT

      • Rushing: 74 car, 107 yds, 4 TD (sacked 13 times)

    • Non-Conference (4 games)

      • Passing: 70-for-116, 853 yds, 4 TD, 3 INT

      • Rushing: 22 car, (-7) yds, 1 TD (sacked 5 times)

    • Career Postseason (5 games)

      • Passing: 130-for-203, 1,461 yds, 8 TD, 4 INT

      • Rushing: 69 car, 95 yds, 2 TD (sacked 19 times)

  • RB Adam Randall, Gr.

    • Accepted his invite to the 2026 Senior Bowl

    • Overall (12 games)

      • Rushing: 157 car, 779 yds, 9 TD

      • Receiving: 31 rec, 246 yds, 3 TD

    • Non-Conference (4 games)

      • Rushing: 52 car, 232 yds, 3 TD

      • Receiving: 8 rec, 44 yds, 0 TD

    • Career Postseason (4 games)

      • Rushing: 4 car, 44 yds, 0 TD

      • Receiving: 10 rec, 96 yds, 0 TD

  • WR T.J. Moore, So.

    • Overall (12 games): 46 rec, 754 yds, 4 TD

    • Non-Conference (4 games): 14 rec, 206 yds, 2 TD

    • Career Postseason (2 games): 12 rec, 148 yds, 1 TD

Penn State (Spread Offense)

  • QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, R-Fr.

    • Overall (10 games)

      • Passing: 100-for-144, 1,079 yds, 6 TD, 4 INT

      • Rushing: 31 car, (-35) yds, 1 TD (sacked 11 times)

    • Non-Conference (3 games)

      • Passing: 8-for-11, 105 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT

      • Rushing: 3 car, 8 yds, 1 TD (sacked 0 times)

    • Career Postseason (1 game)

      • Passing: 1-for-2, 9 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT

      • Rushing: 0 car, 0 yds, 0 TD

  • RB Kaytron Allen, Sr.

    • Has scored a rushing TD in all but one game in 2025 (Nov 8, vs. No. 2 Indiana)

    • Overall (12 games): 210 car, 1,303 yds, 15 TD

    • Non-Conference (3 games): 34 car, 313 yds, 3 TD

    • Career Postseason (6 games): 82 car, 498 yds, 4 TD

  • WR Trebor Peña, R-Sr.+

    • Is a native of Bronx, NY (played high school football in Ocean Township, NJ)

    • Overall (12 games): 44 rec, 452 yds, 1 TD

    • Non-Conference (3 games): 13 rec, 176 yds, 1 TD

    • Career Postseason (2 games): 8 rec, 82 yds, 2 TD


Players To Watch on Defense

Clemson (4-2-5 Defense)

  • DE Will Heldt, Jr.

    • 2023-24: Purdue

    • Third-Team All-ACC

    • First career postseason game

    • Overall (12 games): 42 tot, 15 TFL, 7.5 sacks

    • Non-Conference (4 games): 15 tot, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks

    • Away (5 games): 20 tot, 6 TFL, 2 sacks

  • LB Sammy Brown, So.

    • ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year (2024)

    • ESPN Freshman All-American (2024)

    • Overall (12 games): 92 tot, 12.5 TFL, 5 sacks

    • Non-Conference (4 games): 29 tot, 3 TFL, 1 sack

    • Career Postseason (2 games): 24 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks

  • CB Ashton Hampton, So.

    • College Football Network Freshman All-American (2024)

    • Overall (12 games): 43 tot, 1 INT, 10 PD

    • Non-Conference (4 games): 9 tot, 1 INT, 4 PD

    • Career Postseason (2 games): 5 tot, 0 INT, 2 PD

Penn State (4-2-5 Defense)

  • DE Dani Denis-Sutton, Sr.

    • Accepted his invite to the 2026 Senior Bowl

    • Overall (12 games): 38 tot, 10 TFL, 6.5 sacks

    • Non-Conference (3 games): 9 tot, 4.5 TFL, 2 sacks

    • Career Postseason (6 games): 22 tot, 6 TFL, 4.5 sacks

  • LB Amare Campbell, Jr.

    • Overall (12 games): 96 tot, 9.5 TFL, 3 sacks

    • Non-Conference (3 games): 22 tot, 3 TFL, 1 sack

    • Career Postseason (2 games): 8 tot, 1 TFL, 0 sacks

  • FS King Mack, Jr.

    • 2023: Penn State

    • 2024: Alabama

    • Overall (12 games): 56 tot, 1 INT, 3 PD

    • Non-Conference (3 games): 13 tot, 0 INT, 1 PD

    • Career Postseason (2 games): 2 tot, 0 INT, 0 PD


Quick Picks & Analysis

Bryan: With a month of rest for both teams, it’s time to hit the reset button. The Nittany Lions are the less depleted side in this one, and that should propel them to victory.

Penn State 27, Clemson 26.

 
 
 

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