The Clemson vs. Penn State game is going to be a big headliner today. Pinstripe Bowl officials described it as a “dream matchup” for the event.
Dabo Swinney’s Clemson ended the 2025 season with a 7-5 record, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play. Meanwhile, Penn State ended the 2025 season with a 6-6 record, including a 3-6 record in the Big Ten.
With both programs eager to make the most of seasons that fell short of expectations, let’s look at everything you need to know ahead of today’s super showdown between these two schools.
Clemson vs. Penn State Game Details
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025
- Time: 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York
How To Watch
- TV Channel: ABC
- TV Announcers: Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter)
- Live Stream: Fubo, ESPN App
- Radio: The Clemson Athletic Network broadcast, The Penn State Sports Network.
Where Do Clemson and Penn State Stand Heading Into Today’s Game?
Since taking over the program in 2009, Swinney has compiled a 12-9 postseason record and remains upbeat ahead of the game with Penn State.
“I’ve been to a lot of bowls in my life as a player and coach at Alabama and as a coach at Clemson, but this is the first time in my life that I’ve had the opportunity to play in a bowl in New York City,” Swinney said (Clemson Athletic Communications). “Obviously, we had a tough start, but we have the opportunity to win five in a row and take great momentum into the new year.”
“We can add to our FBS record by winning a postseason game for the 15th straight year and reach eight wins for the 15th year in a row, so there’s a lot of opportunity in this game. I’m appreciative of our players for fighting their tails off to get us to the postseason, and I’m thankful to be part of this great bowl experience in New York City.”
The Nittany Lions were the laughing stock of the college football world earlier this season, with back-to-back losses and James Franklin’s firing. However, they regained stability down the stretch, finishing the regular season with wins over Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers.
“Finish writing the script for the 2025 season,” interim head coach Terry Smith said on Friday. “Six games ago we set a vision to write the chapter the way we want to write it, and we still have that opportunity, and we want to write this final script to it.”
Offensively, Penn State is averaging 359.1 yards per game this season, while Clemson is producing 405.3 yards per contest. The Nittany Lions rank No. 14 in the PFSN College Football Offense Impact Metrics, compared to Clemson’s No. 54 ranking.
Defensively, Clemson sits 54th nationally, allowing 353.6 yards per game, while Penn State ranks 35th, giving up 334.3 yards per outing. In the PFSN Defense Impact ratings, the Tigers hold an 82.9 score, while the Nittany Lions are close behind at 79.9.
Despite uneven seasons, Clemson and Penn State remain among the most successful programs in college football over the past decade. This bowl game marks just the second meeting between the two schools, with the Tigers winning the first encounter 35-10 in the 1988 Citrus Bowl.
