Keys to Victory: Clemson vs. Penn State

The Match-Up:

Clemson (7-5, 4-4 ACC) vs. Penn State (6-6, 3-6 Big Ten)

Clemson will attempt to earn a postseason victory for an FBS-record-extending 15th season in a row on Saturday, Dec. 27 when the Tigers face the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2025 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl. Kickoff at Yankee Stadium in New York is set for noon ET on ABC.

• When: Saturday, Dec. 27, 12:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC (Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Taylor McGregor)
• Radio: Clemson Athletic Network (Don Munson, Tim Bourret, Reggie Merriweather)
• Radio: ESPN Radio (Jorge Sedano, Trevor Matich, Caroline Hendershot)
• Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 84
• Venue: Yankee Stadium | New York, N.Y.

Storylines:

Clemson's postseason participation comes after it engineered one of the largest in-season turnarounds in school history. After a 1-3 start, the 2025 Tigers finished the regular season 7-5, becoming the first squad in program history to reach seven wins after starting a season with one win or fewer through four games.

With an eighth win, Clemson (14 straight seasons with eight or more wins) would join Alabama (18) and Georgia (15) as the only programs in the nation with 15 or more consecutive eight-win seasons. It would represent only the 12th streak of 15 or more consecutive eight-win seasons in the FBS in the AP Poll era (dates to 1936).

The game will represent the second all-time meeting between two of the nation’s premier programs in Clemson and Penn State. The programs boast a combined 1,764 all-time victories, and the schools have combined for five national championships since 1981.

The Tigers and Nittany Lions first squared off on New Year’s Day in 1988 when Danny Ford’s squad concluded a 10-2 campaign in 1987 by handing Joe Paterno and Penn State its largest margin of defeat in a bowl game in a 35-10 Clemson victory in the Citrus Bowl.

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney enters the game tied with Paterno (and Urban Meyer) for the fourth-most wins by an FBS head coach through the first 20 seasons of a head coaching career. Paterno amassed a 187-44-2 record in his first 20 seasons; Swinney has a 187-52 record through 17-plus seasons at Clemson, including his stint as interim head coach in 2008.

Fun Fact:

The Pinstripe Bowl will be Clemson's 22nd bowl game (including College Football Playoff play) under Swinney. Swinney is already the ACC's record holder in career bowl games as an ACC head coach (21).

Series History:

• OVERALL: Clemson leads series, 1-0
• HOME: N/A
• ROAD: N/A
• NEUTRAL: Clemson leads series, 1-0
• LAST MEETING: Jan. 1, 1988 (35-10, W)
• STREAK: Clemson, Won 1

Swanny’s Rant & Reality Check:

“Trying to predict college football bowl games is a fool’s errand. It’s not analysis — it’s throwing darts blindfolded and hoping one sticks. You’re better off pinning the tail on the donkey than pretending you know how these things will play out.

That said, if one of these teams walks out of Yankee Stadium getting their doors blown off, I’d be surprised — especially if Clemson is the one that doesn’t show up. Cade Klubnik is there. That matters. Even with the Tigers banged up at wide receiver, this feels like a game where other pieces have to step forward. Tristan Smith has to have a day. Tyler Brown has to have a day. The tight ends have to be more involved than people probably expect.

And if the weather turns this into a snow game, then the ground game has to travel. Maybe that’s where someone like Adam Randall gets a chance to put something real on tape — legit carries, tough yards, NFL-style football. Yes, ball security has been an issue, but moments like this can define a player.

Penn State has questions of its own. Kaytron Allen is a proven back if he plays, but “he’ll be dressed” isn’t the same thing as “he’s a full go.” At quarterback, they may be rolling with the future — and that’s fine — but Clemson has its present. And in bowl games, that usually wins out.

I’ll take my chances on this Clemson team finishing the season the right way. From where they were earlier this year to where they are now, that kind of turnaround matters. It matters for momentum, it matters for belief, and it matters heading into an offseason that’s going to come with plenty of questions. Clemson finding a way to get this one would say a lot about who they are — and where they’re headed.”

Keys to Victory:

1. Handle the Elements

Snow changes everything, and this may be the most unpredictable variable in the entire matchup between Clemson and Penn State.

Clemson simply doesn’t live in these conditions. Ball security, footing, and stamina become magnified when the surface is slick, and visibility is compromised. That puts a premium on:

• Pre-snap operation (no false starts, clean exchanges)
• Two-hand ball security at all skill positions
• Quick decision-making from Cade Klubnik to avoid long-developing plays

If Clemson tries to play “pretty” football in the snow, that’s a problem. If the Tigers instead simplify things, shorten the game, and treat every possession like it’s gold, they can neutralize Penn State’s comfort edge in winter weather. This doesn’t have to be flashy—it just has to be functional.

2. Control the Line of Scrimmage on Defense

This is where Clemson may quietly have its biggest opportunity.

Penn State entering this game down multiple offensive linemen is no small detail, especially against a Clemson defensive front that has been built through years of high-level recruiting. Even without household-name stars, this is a moment for young defensive linemen to leave a real imprint.

• Snowy conditions favor the defense
• Offensive linemen struggle with leverage
• One missed step can lead to negative plays

A handful of tackles for loss or one or two drive-killing sacks could be the difference in a low-scoring bowl environment.

Simply put: if Clemson controls the trenches defensively, the Tigers control the tone of the game.

3. The Trifecta on the Ground

With the weather in play and wide receiver depth already strained, Clemson’s path offensively likely runs straight through Adam Randall, Gideon Davidson, and David Eziomume.

Traction will be an issue for both teams, but Clemson has enough on the ground to lean into this if they commit to it. The goal doesn’t need to be explosive runs—it needs to be positive yards, manageable third downs.

If Clemson wins time of possession and stays ahead of the chains, Klubnik can pick his spots instead of forcing throws in poor conditions.

Prediction:

Bowl games are notoriously chaotic in this era, and this one checks every box for uncertainty—opt-outs, injuries, weather, and unfamiliar surroundings. But Clemson has two massive stabilizers: its starting quarterback and a group of capable running backs for a snowy game.

If the Tigers:

• Protect the football
• Disrupt Penn State up front
• Fully commit to the ground game

Then this feels like a game Clemson can grind out rather than dominate. It may not be pretty, and it may not be high-scoring, but there’s a very real path for Clemson to finish strong and carry momentum into the offseason.

My lean is to the Tigers—by surviving, not styling.

The Pick: Clemson 27, Penn State 23

Season Record: 8-4

Swanny’s Predictions:

✅ = Correct Prediction