The question of what's the score of penn state game has been on a lot of minds lately, especially given how wild this 2025 season turned out to be. If you’re looking for the most recent result, Penn State capped off their year on December 27, 2025, with a 22-10 victory over Clemson in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Honestly, it was a weird year for the Nittany Lions.
They finished 7-6. That’s not what anyone in Happy Valley expected when the season kicked off with Penn State ranked in the top five. But that Pinstripe Bowl win actually felt like a massive relief because it extended their winning streak to four games to close the year. For a team that went through a mid-season coaching change—James Franklin out, Terry Smith in as the interim—ending on a high note in the Bronx was basically the best-case scenario.
What's the score of penn state game and the Pinstripe Bowl Breakdown
If you missed the bowl game, here is the quick and dirty version of how that 22-10 win went down.
The defense was the real story. They held Clemson to just 236 total yards. Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton were living in the backfield. Ethan Grunkemeyer, the freshman quarterback who took over the reigns, looked surprisingly poised. He threw a massive 73-yard touchdown pass to Tyseer Denmark in the fourth quarter that basically iced it.
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- Final Score: Penn State 22, Clemson 10
- Key Stat: Penn State defense recorded 4 sacks and held Clemson to 5-of-15 on third downs.
- The Turning Point: A 73-yard bomb from Grunkemeyer to Denmark that pushed the lead to 15-3.
Clemson tried to make a game of it late with a short rushing touchdown, but Grunkemeyer responded immediately with an 11-yard strike to Andrew Rappleyea. You've gotta love a young QB who doesn't blink when the pressure starts to mount.
Why the 2025 Season Felt Like a Rollercoaster
You can’t just look at what's the score of penn state game for the bowl and understand the full picture. This season was a total heartbreaker for the first two months.
Penn State started 3-0, looking like world-beaters. Then the wheels fell off. They lost six straight games.
Six. In a row.
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It started with a double-overtime loss to Oregon (24-30) during the White Out. Then a five-point loss at UCLA. Then a one-point loss to Northwestern. Then another one-point loss at Iowa. It was like they forgot how to win close games. By the time they lost to Indiana on November 8, the fans were basically ready to riot.
But then something clicked.
- Michigan State: They went to East Lansing and dominated 28-10.
- Nebraska: A 37-10 blowout at Beaver Stadium.
- Rutgers: A gritty 40-36 win in Piscataway to get bowl eligible.
- Clemson: The 22-10 Pinstripe Bowl win.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Now that the 2025 season is officially in the books, everyone is asking what's next. The 2026 schedule is already starting to take shape.
The Nittany Lions will open up the 2026 campaign on September 5, 2026, against Marshall at Beaver Stadium. After that, they’ve got a tricky road trip to Philadelphia to face Temple on September 12, followed by a home game against Buffalo on September 19.
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The big question moving forward is the coaching situation. With Matt Campbell reportedly arriving in December to take the helm, the "interim" era is over. Fans are hoping the momentum from that 4-game winning streak carries over into the spring practice.
Actionable Steps for Penn State Fans
If you want to stay on top of what's the score of penn state game for the upcoming 2026 season, here is what you should do right now:
- Download the Official Athletics App: It’s the fastest way to get live box scores without the lag of social media.
- Check the 2026 Schedule: Mark September 5 on your calendar for the opener against Marshall.
- Follow the Transfer Portal: With a new head coach, expect a lot of roster movement in the next few weeks.
Penn State football is never boring. Whether they are winning 11 games or scraping by with 7, the drama in Happy Valley is always top-tier. That Pinstripe Bowl win might have been played in a baseball stadium, but for a team that was 3-6 at one point, it felt like a national championship.