Clemson’s season came to an icy end Saturday afternoon as the Tigers took on Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in a game that looked much different than what was expected back in August. At the start of the year, this was the type of pairing many expected deep into the College Football Playoff, rather than a battle to end a tumultuous season on a positive note. Instead, both programs have had to grind through adversity and rely on late surges to punch their ticket to the playoffs.
For Clemson, the surge is real. Dabo Swinney’s team ended the regular season with a four-game winning streak, including a road win over South Carolina in the Palmetto Bowl. Cade Klubnik had one of his sharpest performances down the stretch, throwing for 268 yards, and the defense shut down South Carolina’s offense after halftime to turn the game on its head. Timely gains turned the momentum into scoring, including the game-sealing pick six.
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Penn State’s road to the postseason was much rockier. The Nittany Lions were once viewed as a national title contender, but suffered a six-game losing streak and a coaching change during a brutal stretch in the middle of the season. To Penn State’s credit, though, for its late stability, three straight wins put the Lions back in bowl eligibility and reset the tone heading into December.
Now, all of this leads to a cold, potentially snowy afternoon in the Bronx, where conditions may dictate pace, style and strategy. Here are our thoughts on the Clemson-Penn State game.
Tully: Clemson 17, Penn State 13
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney during a Pinstipe Bowl practice on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, in Clemson, South Carolina.
Weather will play a big role here, but I think this race will come down to whose plan is more consistent. Well, none of them look that compelling in 2025, but the Tigers have a few more chances and Dabo Swinney is still running the program and ready to make some changes.
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Give me Clemson in a low-scoring matchup.
Hawley: Clemson 26, Penn State 23
Clemson Tigers’ Cade Klubnik plays against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. Klubnick and Clemson will face Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27. (David Jensen/Getty Images)
The weather forecast looks dire and the cold weather seems to be working in Penn State’s favor. But I like what Clemson did in this game. They ended the season with an impressive four-game winning streak. Cade Klubnik braved the elements and had a solid day in his final start at Clemson, the defense performed (mostly) well and the Tigers ended the year on a five-game winning streak similar to two years ago.
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This article originally appeared in Clemson Wired: Clemson vs. Penn State Pinstripe Bowl Score Predictions
