A matchup between two college football powerhouses wraps up disappointing seasons in the Bronx, as the Penn State Nittany Lions face the Clemson Tigers in the Pinstripe Bowl. Both programs entered the 2025 season with high expectations but now look to end the year on a positive note in this intriguing bowl game.
1. Game Overview
- Matchup: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Clemson Tigers
- Event: Pinstripe Bowl
- Date: Friday, December 27, 2025
- Time: 12:00 PM EST
- Location: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
- TV Schedule: The game will be broadcast live on ESPN. It can also be streamed via services like Fubo.
2. Team Form and Analysis
Penn State Nittany Lions
The 2025 season has been a challenging one for Penn State. After starting the year ranked in the preseason AP Top 25, the Nittany Lions’ campaign was derailed by key losses and a critical injury. A stunning 22-21 home loss to Northwestern dropped the team to 3-3 and, more significantly, resulted in a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Drew Allar. The injury to their offensive leader marked a turning point for a team that struggled to regain its footing. Now playing for pride, head coach James Franklin’s squad aims to salvage the season with a bowl victory.
Clemson Tigers
Clemson also failed to live up to its perennial College Football Playoff contender status in 2025. The season got off to a rocky start, with the Tigers stumbling to a 1-2 record, including a loss to Georgia Tech. According to reports, the team did not look like a playoff contender early on and could not fully recover to meet preseason expectations. For head coach Dabo Swinney, the Pinstripe Bowl offers a chance to secure a winning record and build momentum heading into the offseason after a campaign that fell short of the program’s lofty standards.
3. Injury Report
The most significant injury impacting this game is on the Penn State sideline.
- Penn State: Quarterback Drew Allar is out for the season after suffering an injury in the team’s loss to Northwestern. His absence is a major blow to the Nittany Lions’ offense and is the most critical factor heading into this matchup.
- Clemson: Based on the provided search results, there are no significant, season-altering injuries reported for the Clemson Tigers leading into the bowl game.
4. Betting Odds Breakdown
- Point Spread: Clemson -2.5Clemson is the favorite in this game. For a bet on Clemson to win, they must defeat Penn State by 3 or more points. A bet on Penn State will win if they win the game outright or lose by 2 points or fewer.
- Total (Over/Under): 47.5The over/under is the total combined points scored by both teams. Bettors can wager on whether the final score will be more than 47.5 points (the “over”) or less than 47.5 points (the “under”). This relatively low total suggests that oddsmakers anticipate a defensive or lower-scoring contest.
5. Prediction
While both teams are looking to end disappointing seasons with a victory, the quarterback situation gives one team a decisive edge. Penn State has been forced to operate without its starting quarterback, Drew Allar, which severely limits its offensive potential. Clemson, despite its own struggles this season, enters the game as the more complete and healthier team.
The small point spread indicates a game that is expected to be close, but the absence of Allar for Penn State is too significant to overlook. Expect Clemson’s defense to capitalize on the instability at quarterback for the Nittany Lions. In a likely low-scoring affair at Yankee Stadium, the Tigers should be able to do just enough offensively to secure the win and cover the spread.
Prediction: Clemson 24, Penn State 17
Sources:
Clemson vs. Penn State football series history – Winsipedia
Penn State Nittany Lions Head-to-Head Results | College Football at …
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James Franklin – Penn State – Official Athletics Website
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Dabo Swinney Bio – Football — Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site
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