Penn State, Clemson Embrace ‘Best Matchup Ever’ in Pinstripe Bowl Presser

Penn State, Clemson Embrace ‘Best Matchup Ever’ in Pinstripe Bowl Presser

December 9, 2025 NEW YORK — In a virtual press conference buzzing with holiday cheer and football grit, representatives from Penn State and Clemson turned their focus to the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, set for Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium. The 6-6 Nittany Lions and 7-5 Tigers, both coming off late-season surges, promised a festive showdown that bowl executive Mark Holtzman called “arguably the best matchup we’ve ever had.”

Holtzman, the Pinstripe Bowl’s executive director, opened the session by highlighting the hunger among New York college football fans for a clash of this caliber. “College football fans in New York have been starving for a game like this between Clemson and Penn State,” he said, emphasizing the historic venue’s allure during the holidays.

The game, kicking off at noon ET on ABC, marks the 15th edition of the bowl and the 11th straight year pitting an ACC team against a Big Ten foe.For Clemson, the trip to the Bronx caps a rollercoaster season that saw the Tigers start 3-5 before reeling off four straight wins to secure bowl eligibility. Head coach Dabo Swinney, fresh off extending his school’s record bowl streak to 21 years, expressed genuine excitement about the destination—a first for Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.

“This is a bowl I’ve always kept my eye on. What a unique opportunity to play a football game in Yankee Stadium,” Swinney said, noting that many of his players have never visited New York City.

Swinney didn’t shy away from praising his opponent, crediting interim Penn State coach Terry Smith’s leadership for the Nittany Lions’ resilience amid a turbulent year. “What you’ve seen at Penn State is the character of their program, the character of their players, because they’ve continued to battle,” Swinney said. “I think that’s a great reflection of who coach Smith is and the job that he’s done.”

He added a nod to the bigger picture: “Certainly did not have to start that we wanted, but these guys have finished well and they’re excited to be here and we are excited to get to play one more time.”

Clemson athletic director Graham Neff echoed the sentiment, describing the matchup as a “great opportunity” for both programs to close strong. Swinney wrapped his thoughts on the game’s stakes by calling it “the closer”—a fitting end to a season of redemption, especially with the iconic stadium as the backdrop. “I’m super thankful we’re getting the opportunity to play again. There’s a lot of people who aren’t getting another opportunity to play,” he said.

Across the divide, Penn State enters the bowl amid significant transition. James Franklin was fired on Oct. 12 following a 3-3 start, thrusting defensive coordinator Terry Smith into the interim role. Under Smith, the Nittany Lions won three of their final four games to finish 6-6 and earn a postseason bid—their fifth straight bowl appearance.

Smith will helm the team against Clemson, even as new head coach Matt Campbell—introduced in a separate presser on Dec. 8—was confirmed to retain him on staff.Smith, who revealed he’s signing a four-year deal as associate head coach under Campbell, spoke glowingly about his decision to stay in Happy Valley. “My love for the university. I’ve expressed that time after time. I love the university,” he said, crediting a 15-plus-year relationship with Campbell dating back to his high school coaching days. “I’ve known him. I know what he’s about. At this point in my career, I truly can only work for certain types of individuals, and we’re aligned… He’s blue-collar, he creates toughness, discipline, and just the core values of what Penn State represents.”

“I felt like he was the right leadership at the time, and I wanted to stay a part of it. It’s worked out for my family. Obviously, I’m excited that Matt is welcoming me to his staff.”

Addressing roster flux, Smith confirmed that veteran defensive tackle Zane Durant—the team’s leading sacker with four—opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft, becoming the lone opt-out so far. “He chose to move on at this point. He’s the only one who has opted out,” Smith said matter-of-factly. “We’re looking forward to putting our best team forward and getting ready for this Clemson team that creates all kinds of challenges for us.” Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft, who spearheaded the swift hire of Campbell from Iowa State, lavished praise on Swinney while underscoring the bowl’s significance. “I think Coach Swinney is one of the best to ever do it,” Kraft said.

He tempered expectations with a reminder of the postseason’s gravity: “Postseason is postseason. You never take bowl games for granted.”

Kraft highlighted the matchup’s iconic elements, calling Yankee Stadium “one of the most historic venues in all of sports” and the holiday timing “even more memorable.”

“Bringing together two iconic brands—Penn State and the New York Yankees—creates a truly special experience for our student-athletes and fans. Spending Christmas in New York City makes this bowl experience even more memorable. We can’t wait to bring Nittany Nation to the Big Apple.”

Smith shared Kraft’s enthusiasm for the locale, pointing to the tri-state area’s deep Penn State roots. “We’re thrilled to represent Penn State in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium,” he said. “Playing in New York City is special, especially with so many of the greatest alumni in the world living in the tri-state area.”

Holtzman revealed behind-the-scenes drama in the selection process, noting Penn State was locked in early while Clemson went down to “the last few seconds in the draft” due to high demand from other bowls.

The result? A rematch of the teams’ lone prior meeting—a 35-10 Clemson win in the 1988 Citrus Bowl. As practices ramp up and travel packages roll out (IPTAY donors have until Dec. 10 to request tickets), both sides framed the Pinstripe as more than a consolation—it’s a capstone. For Clemson, it’s momentum into 2026; for Penn State, a bridge to Campbell’s era. Either way, Yankee Stadium will host two programs hungry to roar one last time in 2025.