Clemson (7-5) and Penn State (6-6) are set to square off in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx on Dec. 27 (noon, ABC).

So, how does the Pinstripe Bowl stack up with the other bowl games this postseason?

CBS Sports ranks it as the eighth-best matchup of bowl season, including College Football Playoff bowl games, and the second-best non-CFP bowl game behind only the Citrus Bowl (Texas vs. Michigan on Dec. 31).  

“The Nittany Lions won three straight in November to become bowl-eligible, and unlike a few other Power programs in the middle of a coaching change, actually want to play in the postseason,” CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote. “Interim Terry Smith deserves applause for keeping this team together. Now, Matt Campbell will try and put his stamp on the program in 2026 and beyond. Any excuse to play a college football game inside Yankee Stadium is worth a watch, especially when it features Dabo Swinney’s antics on the sideline.”

Yahoo Sports isn’t as high on the Pinstripe Bowl, ranking it as the No. 24 bowl game, including CFP first-round games.

“A Penn State-Clemson bowl game would have been an enticing proposition before the season. Now, not so much,” Yahoo’s Nick Bromberg wrote. “Both teams had incredibly underwhelming seasons after they were ranked in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 to start the season. It’ll be the final game in charge for Penn State interim coach Terry Smith, though he’s staying on new head coach Matt Campbell’s staff for 2026 and beyond.”

USA Today has the Pinstripe Bowl three spots lower as the No. 27 bowl game, not including CFP games.

“If you were looking at preseason polls and saw this matchup you’d probably assume it was a playoff game,” USA Today’s Eddie Timanus wrote. “The level of engagement by the participating institutions will largely determine its watchability, though both teams do deserve some credit for salvaging their seasons to a small degree.”

The Athletic, meanwhile, ranks the Pinstripe Bowl as the fifth-best non-CFP bowl.

“Back in August, nobody would have been surprised to see Penn State (6-6) and Clemson (7-5) meet in both teams’ final game of the season,” The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman wrote. “But everyone would have done a double-take on the location. It’s not out of line to call this “The Disappointment Bowl” but this might be the most talent-laden Pinstripe Bowl ever. There are NFL-caliber players at every position for both teams. While neither team approached its potential, that doesn’t mean there won’t be wow plays.”

The contest will be the second all-time meeting between Clemson and Penn State, as the Tigers beat the Nittany Lions, 35-10, in the 1988 Citrus Bowl.

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. Though Clemson opted against a bowl appearance in 2004, the Tigers have now been bowl eligible in 27 consecutive seasons, dating to a 1999 appearance in the Peach Bowl.

Clemson is currently a 3.5-point favorite over Penn State, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

–Photo courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images