National Outlets Make Their Picks for Clemson-Penn State
By: Gavin Oliver December 8, 2025

It was announced on Sunday that Clemson and Penn State will square off in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York (noon, ABC).

This will mark the second time the two teams have met on the football field, with Clemson beating Penn State, 35-10, in the 1988 Citrus Bowl.

Clemson, the No. 4 team in the preseason AP Poll, enters the contest with a 7-5 record, while Penn State, the preseason No. 2 team, comes in at 6-6 on the season.

ESPN and The Sporting News each made their predictions for every postseason game (bowl and College Football Playoff games).

ESPN picked the Nittany Lions to beat the Tigers, 20-16.

“Neither team entered the 2025 season expecting to finish it out in a baseball stadium in the Bronx, although at least Dabo Swinney is a Yankees fan,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg wrote. “Penn State made a midseason coaching change, while Swinney has hinted at significant adjustments for the way his program operates. Both teams finished strong, though, as Clemson swept its final four games, and Penn State claimed its final three under interim coach Terry Smith, who will remain on staff with new coach Matt Campbell. Opt-outs likely will factor into this matchup, given the NFL hopefuls on both teams. The location favors Penn State, which will play hard for Smith and win a low-scoring contest.”

Meanwhile, The Sporting News is going with Clemson to beat Penn State, 28-21.

“Penn State has a new coach, but the Nittany Lions will be looking to send off interim coach Terry Smith with a victory,” The Sporting News’ Bill Bender wrote. “Will star running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen play in the game? Clemson allowed 13.2 points per game in its last four games – all victories. The Tigers have not lost a bowl outside the New Year’s Day Six since 2010.”

The Pinstripe Bowl berth extends Clemson’s school-record bowl streak to 21 years, the longest streak in the ACC and the fourth-longest streak in the country.

Clemson’s 21-year streak dates to its Champs Sports Bowl win against Colorado to close the 2005 season. Though Clemson opted against a bowl appearance in 2004, Clemson has now been bowl eligible in 27 consecutive seasons, dating to a 1999 appearance in the Peach Bowl.

The Tigers are currently a 2.5-point favorite over the Nittany Lions, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.