The Pinstripe Bowl on December 27, 2025, brings a matchup that hardly anyone saw coming: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Clemson Tigers. Both teams started the year in the preseason Top-5, but things didn’t go as planned.
Instead of the College Football Playoff, they’ll meet at Yankee Stadium. With so many key players opting out for the NFL Draft, both teams will lean on backups and new faces to try to pull off a win.
Let’s dig into what’s going on with each team and see if we can make sense of what’s about to happen.
Overview of the Teams
Penn State and Clemson both came in with sky-high expectations. Injuries and up-and-down performances, though, pretty much tanked their title hopes.
Now, the Pinstripe Bowl is on the table. It’s not what they dreamed of, but it’s a shot at ending the season on a better note—even if the rosters are looking thin.
Penn State’s Challenges
Penn State’s season got derailed when starting quarterback Drew Allar went out hurt. Backup Ethan Grunkemeyer stepped up, and after some early struggles, he actually led the team to wins in their last three games.
But here’s the kicker—four out of five starting offensive linemen are out, along with several important skill players. That’s a tough situation for any quarterback, let alone a backup.
Grunkemeyer’s going to have to make quick decisions and hope his remaining weapons step up. The coaching staff is a bit of a mess right now, so they’ll need to get it together fast to have any shot against Clemson’s defense.
Clemson’s Edge
Clemson isn’t exactly at full strength, either. They’re missing eight starters, five of whom are already looking ahead to the NFL.
But here’s where it gets interesting: starting quarterback Cade Klubnik is playing, and most of his offensive line will be out there with him. That’s a big deal in a bowl game with so many backups on both sides.
Offensive Stability
Klubnik’s presence gives Clemson a certain steadiness that Penn State just doesn’t have right now. Sure, they’re missing some top receivers, but Klubnik’s shown he can work with what he’s got.
And with a mostly intact offensive line, he should have enough time to make things happen, even if it’s not always pretty.
Defensive Depth
Clemson’s defense is also short a few key guys, but their depth is nothing to sneeze at. Even minus some NFL-ready pass rushers, they’re likely to put a ton of pressure on Penn State’s patchwork offensive line.
If Clemson can get after the quarterback, that could swing things their way in a hurry.
Coaching and Motivation
Coaching is another wild card here. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney has a real knack for getting his team up for postseason games, no matter the circumstances.
He’s chasing a 15th straight FBS season with a postseason win, and you can bet he’s not taking this bowl lightly.
Penn State, unfortunately, is dealing with a coaching staff that’s, well, not exactly on the same page. That kind of instability can bleed into preparation and execution, especially in a game like this.
Betting Insights
Betting on bowl games can be tricky. Team performances get weird at this point in the season—sometimes it’s anyone’s guess.
Still, Clemson’s got an edge in a few key spots, and that’s enough to justify a lean in their direction. If you want a deeper dive or more betting tips, check out the full preview and prediction.
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