BRONX, NY — On a cold December Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Penn State defeated Clemson 22–10 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, snapping the Tigers’ nation-leading streak of 14 consecutive seasons with at least one postseason victory and adding another chapter to the stadium’s century-long connection to college football.
The matchup, once projected by many as a potential national championship preview, instead unfolded as a physical, defense driven bowl game between two programs navigating injuries, opt-outs, and roster turnover. Still, the setting served as a reminder that college football has long been part of Yankee Stadium’s identity and not by mistake but rather by design.
The late George Steinbrenner had deep roots in football and demanded that the new Yankee Stadium be built to be able to host college football games, which helped shape the annual Pinstripe Bowl – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Before becoming the iconic owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner had deep roots in football. He served as a graduate assistant under legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes, coached at Northwestern and Purdue, and worked with future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson. That background shaped Steinbrenner’s insistence that the new Yankee Stadium be built to host college football, laying the ground work for the Pinstripe Bowl and its permanent home in the Bronx, New York.
“When we built this place, (George Steinbrenner) made it necessary and instructed us to make sure that it would be able to host great college football games,” Yankees president Randy Levine said prior to the Pinstripe Bowl in a pregame press conference this past Saturday. “And the Pinstripe Bowl is a great college football game.”
New York Yankees president Randy Levine speaking to the press prior to Clemson vs. Penn State in the 2025 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl this past Saturday – Image Credit: Hector Beauchamp/Latino Sports
Penn State capitalized early, forcing a three-and-out on Clemson’s opening possession and settling for a field goal to take a 3–0 lead. The defense from the Tigers repeatedly stiffened in the red zone, holding the Nittany Lions to field goals despite early field-position disadvantages. At the same time, Clemson struggled to find offensive rhythm, managing limited first downs and missing a 33-yard field goal that stalled momentum.
Clemson tied the game late in the second quarter, but Penn State answered with a 48-yard field goal to take a 6–3 lead into halftime. Both teams averaged fewer than four yards per play in the opening half, underscoring the defensive nature of the contest.
The first half of Penn State and Clemson at Yankee Stadium included just three field goals – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
The second half swung in Penn State’s favor as the Nittany Lions extended the lead with another field goal, then broke through with a touchdown drive capped off by a long scoring strike that shifted momentum permanently. The scoring play came on a touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to senior wide receiver Trebor Peña, a moment made more meaningful by Peña’s personal connection to the Bronx.
“Having another chance to play a game like this, that’s special,” said the Bronx-born Peña, who attended Ocean Township High School in New Jersey. “You’ve got to take advantage of it.”
Previously this season, Peña earned the nod of being named on the 2025 Hispanic College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List, along with 14 other collegiate players across the nation.
Trebor Peña finished his MVP performance of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl with five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Clemson quickly responded with a touchdown drive, but Penn State then answered with another scoring march to pull ahead 22–10, effectively sealing the outcome.
Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney cited dropped passes and second-half defensive breakdowns as decisive factors, stating, “It’s all about execution, and we didn’t execute. I quit counting at seven drops. Plays were there—we didn’t make them.”
As the final seconds expired, emotion filled the Clemson sideline, with senior quarterback Cade Klubnik sharing a final embrace with Swinney. For Penn State, the win added another trophy to program history with Peña being named the Pinstripe Bowl MVP—fittingly earned in a stadium built to honor the past while continuing college football’s future.
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