The Penn State Nittany Lions may have finished with a meager 6-6 record this season, but they are feeling fortunate to get to play the Boston College Eagles in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

At the recommendation of a special adviser assigned to monitor the school, the NCAA ended Penn State's four-year bowl ban two years early. Nittany Lions head football coach James Franklin can also look forward to having all the team's scholarships restored as well for next season.

CLICK HERE to listen to the game live via TuneIn. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET in the Bronx, N.Y.

"It's a huge step for so many different reasons," Franklin said in a news conference, according to ESPN. "I think it's a part of us getting back to where we belong in college football... We couldn't be more excited."

A Penn. native, Franklin left Vanderbilt to take over for Bill O'Brien, who only stayed one season at Penn State when he had the opportunity to coach in the NFL. Under the NCAA sanctions, various players on the team would have not had the chance to play in a bowl game if they were not shortened.

"I'm particularly pleased that our senior football student-athletes will have a chance to play in a bowl game, and that as a community we will have one more opportunity to honor and thank them," Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said in a statement.

As shown in their 2-6 Big Ten record, the Lions did not do a whole lot of things right on the field. However, their allowed an average of 17.7 points per game, one of the lowest totals in the nation.

Boston College allowed about 20 points per game and went 4-4 in the ACC, upsetting USC early on and losing close contests with Clemson and Florida State.

The New Era Pinstripe Bowl, once known unofficially as the "Yankee Bowl," is in its fifth year. It is organized by the New York Yankees organization, hosted Yankee Stadium and the winners take home the George M. Steinbrenner Trophy. The game MVP award is named after David C. Koch.