Penn State at Clemson Week 1 College Football Matchup Penn State at Clemson Matchup - Week 1
Sat, Dec 27 2025 · Postseason · Neutral Site · 🏟 Yankee Stadium New York, NY · Turf · 54,251 cap
Penn State✈ 205 miSame TZ Clemson✈ 645 miSame TZ
Away (Neutral)
22 10
Final
Home (Neutral)
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Penn State
27
Clemson
21
P&R Line Penn State -6
P&R Total O/U 48.5
Confidence 75 Good
Vegas Clemson -2.5 · O/U 47.5
Matchup Prediction
Penn State has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Penn State entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Penn State wins
Lean
Game Control
49.4%
Penn State wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Clemson -2.5
O/U 47.5
Draft Kings
Advanced Stats
Advanced factors are split · No strong agreement signal
↓ See full breakdown
🚌 Penn State 2nd straight Road Game
Penn State 2025 Schedule
Penn State's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Penn State vs Nevada-45.5W46–1158.5W46–11UN
Sat 9/6Penn State vs Florida International-42.0W34–053.5W34–0UN
Sat 9/13Penn State vs Villanova-46.5W52–657.5W52–6ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/27Penn State vs Oregon-4.5L24–3052.5L24–30ON
Sat 10/4Penn State at UCLA-24.5L37–4248.5L37–42ON
Sat 10/11Penn State vs Northwestern-20.5L21–2246.5L21–22UN
Sat 10/18Penn State at Iowa+3.5L24–2541.5L24–25OY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/1Penn State at Ohio State+17.5L14–3845.5L14–38ON
Sat 11/8Penn State vs Indiana+13.5L24–2750.5L24–27OY
Sat 11/15Penn State at Michigan State-7.0W28–1048.5W28–10UY
Sat 11/22Penn State vs Nebraska-7.5W37–1045.5W37–10OY
Sat 11/29Penn State at Rutgers-14.5W40–3655.5W40–36ON
Sat 12/27Penn State vs Clemson+2.5W22–1047.5W22–10UY
Clemson 2025 Schedule
Clemson's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Clemson vs LSU-3.5L10–1757.5L10–17UN
Sat 9/6Clemson vs Troy-31.0W27–1651.5W27–16UN
Sat 9/13Clemson at Georgia Tech-2.5L21–2449.5L21–24UN
Sat 9/20Clemson vs Syracuse-17.5L21–3453.5L21–34ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/4Clemson at North Carolina-15.5W38–1047.5W38–10OY
Sat 10/11Clemson at Boston College-14.0W41–1054.5W41–10UY
Sat 10/18Clemson vs SMU-3.5L24–3549.5L24–35ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/1Clemson vs Duke-4.5L45–4655.5L45–46ON
Sat 11/8Clemson vs Florida State-1.5W24–1056.5W24–10UY
Fri 11/14Clemson at Louisville+1.5W20–1950.5W20–19UY
Sat 11/22Clemson vs Furman-41.5W45–1055.5W45–10UN
Sat 11/29Clemson at South Carolina+2.5W28–1445.5W28–14UY
Sat 12/27Clemson vs Penn State-2.5L10–2247.5L10–22UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
Penn State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Split
Metrics disagree
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Penn State #32
+0.337
Clemson #55
+0.308
Penn State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Penn State #53
+0.477
Clemson #58
+0.458
Penn State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Penn State #63
0.159
Clemson #9
0.196
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Clemson Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Penn State #25
+7.004
Clemson #59
+7.131
Clemson Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Penn State #26
+0.833
Clemson #67
+0.836
Clemson Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Penn State #14
68.1
Clemson #39
69.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Penn State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Penn State Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Penn State
8.8
Clemson
8.2
Offense Rating
Penn State
19.0
Clemson
18.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Penn State
10.2
Clemson
9.8
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Penn State Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Penn State #43
1.55
Clemson #65
1.09
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Penn State #35
0.73
Clemson #15
0.46
Penn State +0.46
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 11 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Penn State Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Penn State #1
51.9
Clemson #1
50.8
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Penn State #35
31.3
Clemson #69
34.2
Penn State +1.1
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 12 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Penn State, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Penn State
James Franklin #1
99–41 (71%) · Yr 12 at school
OC Andy Kotelnicki Yr 2 #1
DC Jim Knowles Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Clemson
Dabo Swinney #1
180–46 (80%) · Yr 17 at school
OC Garrett Riley Yr 3 #1
DC Tom Allen Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself