Clemson and Penn State will meet for just the second time in program history Saturday when the teams face off in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
ESPN’s SP+ projection favors Penn State, predicting a 29–23 victory for the Nittany Lions. The model gives Penn State a 64% win probability despite Clemson entering bowl week as a betting favorite.
The matchup marks Clemson’s first appearance in the Pinstripe Bowl and its first football game played at Yankee Stadium. The Tigers won the only previous meeting between the programs, defeating Penn State 35–10 in the 1988 Citrus Bowl.
Clemson (7–5) enters the game riding a four-game winning streak to close the regular season after opening the year 3–5. The Tigers ended the regular season with a 28–14 win over South Carolina, holding the Gamecocks scoreless in the second half.
Penn State (6–6) also finished the regular season on a three-game winning streak to become bowl eligible. The Nittany Lions closed the year with a 40–36 comeback victory over Rutgers on Nov. 29.
According to ESPN’s SP+ rankings, Clemson enters bowl week ranked No. 32 nationally with an overall rating of 10.8. The Tigers’ offense is rated No. 57 nationally, while the defense ranks No. 24. Clemson’s special teams unit is rated No. 34.
Penn State holds a higher offensive rating at No. 18 nationally and ranks No. 7 in special teams, factors that contribute to the SP+ model favoring the Nittany Lions. Penn State’s defense is rated No. 32.
SP+ is a predictive metric developed by ESPN’s Bill Connelly that emphasizes efficiency and sustainability rather than win-loss results or recent momentum.
Kickoff for the Pinstripe Bowl is scheduled for noon ET Saturday. The game will be televised on ABC.