BRONX, NY — Trebor Peña hoisted the MVP trophy on the infield of Yankee Stadium Saturday afternoon. His 73-yard receiving touchdown early in the fourth quarter delivered Penn State the program’s second-ever Pinstripe Bowl win, a 22-10 victory over the Clemson Tigers.
Known as the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, the 15th annual bowl game at the new Yankee Stadium, though neither team Saturday played mean football. It was dull, no offense, and contained just three field goals in the first half on a cold and snowy field in the Bronx.
Trebor Peña broke away from Clemson’s defense in the early goings of the fourth quarter of the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium for a 73-yard touchdown – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
And for the second time, the Nittany Lions won a bowl game in the Bronx, a consolidation to a disappointing season that had this historic college football program projected among finalists vying for a national championship. Clemson, too, disappointing and also projected as a favorite had their struggles and finished their season winning their last four games.
But this was Penn State football again in the Bronx, last time they were here was 11 years ago, winning a 31-30 overtime thriller over Boston College. Boosters, alumni and fans of the Nittany Lions will always look at that season as a success while this matchup culminated with a bowl game victory surrounded by a season of what could have been.
Penn State began the 2025 College Football season as one of the top contenders for the national championship alongside Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Clemson, the team the Nittany Lions defeated on Saturday – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Considering Penn State was a preseason No. 2 favorite, started at 3-0, fired coach James Franklin, lost six straight, won three consecutive to get a bowl game, and hired Matt Campbell to assume coaching duties next year.
And they beat Clemson to finalize what could have been, enough to digest as to why the Nittany Lions had much to celebrate after their win. It was in the Bronx, at Yankee Stadium, and the Pinstripe Bowl has become a draw—approximately 41,101 fans in attendance, which was the third largest since the first one was played in November of 2010 when Notre Dame beat Army 27-3.
Then it was just the Pinstripe Bowl, the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, an avid football follower said it was time to reintroduce a college football bowl game to the Bronx and the winning team also hoist the trophy in his name. Since then it has been Syracuse, Rutgers, Northwestern, Duke, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and others.
Even with rough weather conditions, over 41,000 attended Saturday’s 2025 Pinstripe Bowl to watch Clemson vs. Penn State – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
But when Penn State gets an invite to the Bronx, they never say no. There are numerous alumni in the New York City vicinity and in the proximity from Pennsylvania, making the Bronx an easy route, even under adverse weather conditions. Not like Notre Dame that turned down bowl invitations because of being denied a spot in the college football 12-team playoff.
And for interim coach Terry Smith, he is ready to pass the torch as Campbell takes over.
“Me personally, it’s very rewarding that I know and understand that I can handle this seat,” said Smith following the win. “It was a great ride. I’m ready for the next chapter. I’m ready to pass the torch on to Coach Campbell. He’s an amazing individual and leader and Penn State is in great hands, and I’m ready to help him achieve greatness.”
Interim coach Terry Smith described Saturday’s Pinstripe Bowl win as the greatest moment of his life in the postgame press conference – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Though, Smith wasn’t the entire story. His team responded to the challenges after a sluggish first half of football. Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for a career-high 262 yards and two touchdowns, including that highlight pass to Peña who caught the ball at Penn State’s 44 yard line, got by a Clemson safety, and ran down the left side for a 15-3 lead.
“Having another chance to play a game, like that’s special. You’ve got to take advantage of it,” said Peña, who was born in the Bronx and attended Ocean Township High School in Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. “It was a no-brainer for me to play in this game and finish it out the right way with everybody else. It’s been amazing. Terry (Smith) is somebody that you want to play for. He’s such a good leader. You can tell why everybody rallies around him. He instills that toughness in us and makes us play for something bigger than ourselves.”
“I really respect him and thank him for everything,” he added.
Born in the Bronx, NY, Trebor Peña returned to familiar territory and finished with five receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown on Saturday – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Peña, a redshirt senior, spending the last four years at Syracuse, started in nine games and played in 12 this season. He recorded 44 receptions for 452 yards with one touchdown, had 11 rushes for 69 yards, eight punt returns for 71 yards and a kick return of 16 yards—earning a nod earlier in the year on the 2025 Hispanic College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List.
Grunkemeyer said about Peña and the touchdown pass, “When I saw him kind of break in front of that defender, I knew I had to put it right on him. He ran a great route.”
Penn State QB Ethan Grunkemeyer credited Trebor Peña for his elite route running in the fourth quarter, which led to the 73-yard touchdown – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
Basically, Penn State ran the route they wanted. They accepted another Pinstripe Bowl invitation and went with it. Winning two at Yankee Stadium is in the books.
The final game culminated what could have been.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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