2025 PSU vs. Clemson

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General Game Information

PSU-CLEMSON FINAL GAME STATS LINK

PSU-CLEMSON GAME FLOW & SUMMARY LINK

• Game Thirteen of 2025 season—This is the final game of the 2025 season (season 139) and the 2nd time that Penn State has appeared in the Pinstripe Bowl. PSU is 1-0 in this bowl (a 31-30 win in OT over Boston College in 2014). This is PSU’s 56th bowl game all-time (PSU all-time bowl record is 32-21-2) and this is the Nittany Lions’ 54th appearance in a non-CFP Bowl (PSU is 1-1 in CFP Bowls in 2024). This is also Penn state’s 22nd appearance in a bowl game in the month of December (14-6-1). Penn State wrapped up the regular season with a 6-6 record overall, 3-6 in the Big Ten and 3-3 under Interim Head Coach Terry Smith. New Head Coach Matt Campbell was officially hired on Dec. 8 to replace James Franklin who was fired in October after a 3-3 start to the season. Smith will remain at Penn State as Associate Head Coach with Campbell. The ACC opponent is Clemson (7-5, 4-4 ACC) making this bowl a battle of two of the most disappointing teams of the 2025 season (both had been in the top 5 of the AP pre-season poll—PSU #2, Clemson #4). This is the Tigers first ever appearance in this bowl. Clemson last played Nov. 29 against rival South Carolina beating the Gamecocks, 28-14 (Cade Klubnik passed for 268 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT). Klubnik was reportedly not throwing passes in practice on Dec. 15 due to a thumb injury but is expected to play in the bowl. Clemson is coached by Dabo Swinney (18th season/187-52 overall record). Clemson’s Defensive Coordinator is Tom Allen who was the DC at PSU in 2024. Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer is committed to play in this game. If PSU beats Clemson, it will be the 950th win all-time in Nittany Lions history.

• PSU players opting out of Pinstripe Bowl-Zane Durant DT (to NFL), Zakee Wheatley S (to NFL), Nick Singleton RB (to NFL), Vega Ioane OG (to NFL), Khalil Dinkins TE (to NFL), Nick Dawkins C (to NFL), Nolan Rucci OT (to NFL), Drew Shelton OT (to NFL), Kaytron Allen RB (game day decision/to NFL), Zuriah Fisher DE (future plans uncertain/removed from roster—would reportedly enter portal day after bowl game), Elliot Washington II CB (to Jan. 2 Transfer Portal/removed from roster), Chaz Coleman DE (to Jan. 2 Transfer Portal/removed from roster), Alex Birchmeier OL (to Jan. 2 Transfer Portal/removed from roster), AJ Harris CB (removed from roster/reportedly headed to Jan. 2 Transfer Portal), Aaron Enterline WR (to Jan. 2 Transfer Portal/removed from roster), Kari Jackson LB (to Jan. 2 Transfer Portal/removed from roster), & Daniel Jennings DE (to Jan. 2 Transfer Portal)—Clemson reportedly has 28 players (including 19 who are injured) who have opted out including starting safety Khalil Barnes who is headed to the Jan. 2 Transfer Portal & Ian Schieffelin TE has left the team to pursue basketball—Others from both teams could be revealed on game day—NOTE: In Dec. 18 newser, Terry Smith suggested that he would encourage players to play in the bowl even if they have plans to leave via the portal in Jan., but 7 of those players have been removed from the roster as of Dec. 27. Smith also said that Singleton, Ioane and Wheatley were still working out with the team and would travel to New York. Nine of the “opt outs” are still on the roster on Dec. 27.

• Departing PSU Coaches (still coaching bowl listed in black)-Ty Howle TE Coach/Co-OC (to Va. Tech as OC), Danny O’Brien QB Coach (to Va. Tech in same role), Stan Drayton RB Coach (to South Carolina in same role/will coach PSU in bowl), Jim Knowles DC (to Tennessee in same role), Chuck Losey Strength Coach (to Va. Tech in same role), Phil Trautwein OL Coach (to Florida in same role/will coach PSU in bowl), Marques Hagans WR Coach (not retained by Campbell/will coach PSU in bowl), Andy Kotelnicki OC (not retained by Campbell/will coach PSU in bowl), Anthony Poindexter Co-DC/Safeties Coach (will coach PSU in bowl as DC/expected to join Knowles at Tennessee), Deion Barnes DL Coach (will join Drayton in South Carolina as DE/OLB Coach after coaching PSU in bowl)

• Last PSU Game (Nov. 29): Penn State 40 Rutgers 36 (3rd straight win making PSU bowl eligible with 6 victories) LINK TO STATS THRU RUTGERS WIN

• Current Rankings: Dec. 7 CFP Poll/AP Poll/Coaches Poll-Penn State and Clemson are both unranked in all 3 polls. However, PSU is, for the third straight week, receiving votes in the US LBM Coaches Poll. The Lions got 6 votes technically placing them 40th in the poll. Thanks to an 0-6 start to the Big Ten portion of the season, PSU was not ranked in the CFP poll at any point this fall and has not been ranked in the AP Poll Top 25 for 10 straight weeks and for 9 straight weeks in the Coaches Poll. Penn State began the 2025 season ranked #2 in AP & #3 in the Coaches Poll with Clemson #4 in AP & #6 in the Coaches Poll.

• CFP Playoff Seeding for PSU 2025 Big Ten Opponents: #1 Indiana, #2 Ohio State, & #5 Oregon (none of the 3 teams that PSU faced in the 2024 CFP qualified for this year’s playoffs-SMU, Boise State, Notre Dame)

• Big Ten rankings from Dec. 7 AP Poll-#1 Indiana, #3 Ohio State, #5 Oregon, #16 USC & #18 Michigan (Matt Campbell’s Iowa State team received 2 votes and is technically tied for 41st) / Dec. 7 Coaches Poll-#1 Indiana, #3 Ohio State, #5 Oregon, #16 USC & #17 Michigan with PSU getting 6 votes for 40th (James Franklin is still listed as Penn State coach on the poll’s list of voters)

• PSU 2025 opponents in non-CFP bowls/post-season games: Florida International (L), Northwestern (W), Iowa (W), & Nebraska (L)—Villanova played in FCS Playoffs-reached semifinals—Rutgers reportedly declined a bowl bid

• 2nd meeting with Clemson all-time (2nd meeting in a Bowl): The series dates to the Jan. 1, 1988 Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. In their lone prior face-off, #20 Penn State was beaten by the 14th ranked Tigers, 35-10. The loss ended the Lions 1987 season at 8-4. Penn State was hampered by the absence of star running back Blair Thomas who was out with a serious knee injury that would also keep him out through the entire 1988 season. PSU’s lone TD came on a 2nd quarter 39-yard pass from Matt Knizner QB to Mike Alexander WR. Trey Bauer LB led the defense with a sack and 3 tackles-for-loss. The 25-point margin of defeat in the ‘88 Citrus Bowl is the largest ever for PSU in any bowl/post-season game. The only other PSU bowl/post-season game that saw a losing margin of 20+ points was the 1993 Blockbuster Bowl 24-3 loss to Stanford.

• 4th all-time meeting vs. a full-time ACC member in a Bowl game: PSU is 2-1 in bowls vs. teams that were full football members of the ACC at the time of the bowl. PSU lost 35-10 to Clemson in the 1988 Florida Citrus Bowl, beat Florida State 26-23 (3-OT) in the 2006 Orange Bowl & beat Boston College 31-30 (OT) in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl. (Note: 6 additional PSU bowls involving SMU, Georgia Tech, Miami, Stanford & FSU were prior to those schools’ ACC membership—Notre Dame has never been a full-time football member of the ACC)

• PSU last appearance in a Bowl: The 2025 Orange Bowl/CFP Semifinal-a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame (Ind.).

• PSU last appearance in a non-playoff Bowl: The 2023 Peach Bowl (New Year’s 6)-a 38-25 loss to Ole Miss (SEC).

• PSU last game vs. a full-time member of the ACC: 2024 CFP 1st Round Playoff Game vs. SMU at Beaver Stadium (PS wins 38-10)-2024 was SMU’s 1st season in the ACC—Last Bowl Game vs. a full-time ACC member: 2014 Pinstripe Bowl win vs. Boston College

• PSU last appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl: 2014 vs. Boston College (ACC)—PSU wins 31-30 in OT on a successful extra point kick by Sam Ficken after a PAT miss by BC’s kicker. Ficken also kicked the game-tying 45-yard FG with 20 seconds left to force the overtime. Christian Hackenberg QB passed for a Penn State bowl record 371 yards and 4 TDs including the overtime game-winner to Kyle Carter TE. Hack had opened the game’s scoring with 72-yard TD pass to Chris Godwin WR who made 7 catches for 140 yards in the win. Note 1: Godwin’s 72-yard TD reception matched the then-PSU bowl record set by Chuck Herd (pass from Tom Shuman QB) in the 1974 Orange Bowl win over LSU. Note 2: Current PSU assistants Deion Barnes and Jordan Lucas played for the Nittany Lions in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl.

• 11th PSU game all-time played in New York City (2nd played at new Yankee Stadium/5th at both Yankee Stadiums combined): PSU is 1-0 in current Yankee Stadium (0-2-1 at original Yankee Stadium in the 1920’s). PSU is also 3-0-1 at the old Polo Grounds and 0-2 in games played at Columbia University in the 1930’s. Overall the Nittany Lions are 4-4-2 in 10 games played in NYC. The wins are: 1921 over Georgia Tech, 1941 over NYU, 1947 over Fordham, and in the 2014 Pinstripe Bowl over Boston College. The ties: 1922 vs. Syracuse at the Polo Grounds and 1923 vs. West Virginia at Yankee Stadium. (Note: The 13 games played at old Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ & the 1 played at new Giants/MetLife Stadium, despite being in the shadow of the New York skyline, are not included). This is Clemson’s second appearance in NYC and first since 1952 in a 12-all tie with Fordham at Triborough Stadium.

• Penn State’s 1st appearance at original Yankee Stadium was on Oct. 27, 1923, vs. West Virginia which ended in a 13-13 tie. College Hall of Famer, “Light Horse” Harry Wilson LHB, rushed for both Penn State TDs. It was PS’s only non-loss in 3 appearances in this venue (0-2-1). This was also the debut season for Yankee Stadium itself, and it had just shared in the hosting of the World Series between the Yankees and the New York Giants 13 days earlier (Yanks won 4 games to 2). The 1923 World Series featured former Nittany Lion football and baseball star, Hinkey Haines, who scored one of the runs on the Game 6, Series-clinching 8th inning single by Bob Meusel at the Polo Grounds. It was also the Nittany Lions 3rd appearance ever in NYC after games at the Polo Grounds in 1921 & 1922.

• 2nd PSU appearance in a bowl game under an interim head coach: Previous bowl was the 2012 TicketCity Bowl in Dallas vs. #20 Houston (C-USA) in which Penn State was coached by Tom Bradley. The 24th ranked Nittany Lions lost 30-14 to complete a 9-4 season in the aftermath of the firing of Joe Paterno. Houston was also being coached by an interim (Tony Levine) in this game.

• 4th Noon ET kick for PSU in 2025. The other three noon kicks were the FIU win, the Ohio State loss and the Indiana loss.

• Penn State to wear Generations of Greatness Throwback uniforms for 2nd time this season—This is the new 2025 throwback jersey version first seen in the Oct. 11 Homecoming/Stripe Out game vs. Northwestern—It marked the return of the white V-neck collars that Penn State used from game 2 in 1980 (first made by Russell Athletic) through the 2010 season under Joe Paterno—The white collar makes the Nittany Lion Shrine logo at the base of the neck more visible—The full “GoG” uniform look includes the commonly-seen numbers on helmet sides, gray face masks, striped pants, and white shoes—PSU will also wear a Pinstripe Bowl patch on the left front should of the jersey under the Nike swoosh—This is the second season where PSU has worn the “GoG” look in a post-season game (2024 CFP 1st Round win vs. SMU) and the first time ever in a bowl game—This is the first time this look is being used in a game away from Beaver Stadium—The last time that numbered helmets were used in a bowl game was the 1975 Cotton Bowl 41-20 win over Baylor—The only previous bowl game to see PSU wear white shoes (Adidas) was the 1979 Sugar Bowl 14-7 loss to Alabama. (This is the final special PSU uniform under the Nike flag)

• Penn State pre-bowl practice location: Fordham University’s Moglia Stadium in the Bronx.

  TV/Radio Information

• ABC-TV Gameday Pinstripe Bowl Announcers: Dave Pasch (PBP) & Dusty Dvoracek (Analyst) with Taylor McGregor on the sidelines. Pasch & Dvoracek have not done a PSU game since the 2022 win over Ohio University for ABC (PS 46-10). Pasch’s last PSU bowl game telecast was the 2017 Fiesta Bowl win over Washington on ESPN with analyst Greg McElroy, and Dvoracek’s last PSU bowl game telecast was the 2019 Cotton Bowl win over Memphis on ESPN with Mark Jones (PBP).

• First game televised on ABC since 2022 at Indiana (PS won 45-14). Last PSU Bowl game televised by ABC: 2019 Citrus Bowl vs. Kentucky (PS lost 27-24). The 1988 Florida Citrus Bowl loss vs. Clemson was also on ABC-TV.

• This is the eighth game this season to be televised on a traditional TV Network—The Oregon & Nebraska games appeared on NBC; the Nevada, UCLA & Michigan State games were on CBS; and both the Ohio State & Indiana games were on FOX Big Noon. PSU is 3-4 on traditional TV networks in 2025.

• Penn State Radio Network Announcers: Steve Jones (PBP), Jack Ham (Analyst), & Brian Tripp (Sidelines). Jones & Ham are wrapping up their 26th season in the booth together.