Which bowl game will Penn State be playing in?

Penn State's regular season came to a close with a bowl-eligibility clinching win on the road at Rutgers. No, this season's hopes of a return to the College Football Playoff in pursuit of a national championship did not come to fruition, but there will be one more game to be played by the Nittany Lions in its current state of transition. A coaching search looms over the program as it sits and waits to learn its bowl fate. Here is a brief rundown of what to know about Penn State and the bowl season.

Big Ten Tie‑Ins

For starters, here is a look at the Big Ten's bowl tie-ins for the 2025-2026 bowl season:

• Dec. 26 - GameAbove Sports Bowl, Detroit, Michigan (vs. MAC)

• Dec. 26 - Rate Bowl, Phoenix, Arizona (vs. Big 12)

• Dec. 27 - Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, Bronx, New York (vs. ACC)

• Dec. 30 - TransPerfect Music City Bowl, Nashville, Tennessee (vs. SEC)

• Dec. 31 - Reliaquest Bowl, Tampa, Florida (vs. SEC)

• Dec. 31 - Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida (vs. SEC)

• Dec. 31 - SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, Las Vegas, Nevada (vs. Pac-12 Legacy Pool)*

"*" The Pac-12 Legacy Pool consists of current Pac-12 members Oregon State and Washington State and any other former member of the Pac-12 that is not in the Big Ten

The Big Ten has two December 26 options: the Game Above Sports Bowl in Detroit and the Rate Bowl in Phoenix. ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura has Penn State playing Western Michigan in Detroit, while Mark Schlabach thinks it’ll be Penn State taking on Cincinnati in the Rate Bowl in Phoenix. Not the flashiest matchups, but it’s a real possibility based on conference slots.

Pinstripe Bowl on December 27

This is the bowl everyone keeps circling. The Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium could line up Penn State against an ACC opponent — and a ton of outlets, including Sports Illustrated, which predicts a matchup with Louisville. The last time Penn State was there was 2014, when they beat Boston College in OT.

Music City Bowl on December 30

The Music City Bowl in Nashville is another real option, and Penn State has never played in this bowl. If the committee leans into TV appeal, a Big Ten vs. SEC matchup in Nashville makes sense. Plus, for fans, Nashville in late December hits way differently than Detroit.

How Penn State Got Here

Penn State started the year hot — 3–0 with blowouts over Nevada, FIU, and Villanova — and then everything unraveled. Six straight losses, two one‑point heartbreakers, and eventually the firing of James Franklin. Terry Smith stepped in as interim head coach and immediately flipped the energy.

They finished the season with three straight wins against Michigan State, Nebraska, and Rutgers, grinding their way to bowl eligibility at 6–6. It wasn’t pretty, but it showed the team didn’t quit.

What’s Next on December 7

Official bowl announcements drop December 7, and Penn State fans will finally find out whether it’s Detroit, New York City, Nashville, or something wild the committee pulls out at the last second. No matter where they land, the fact that this team saved its season and got to a bowl is the real story.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Where will Penn State be playing this bowl season?