Penn State player who used Derek Jeter's locker for Pinstripe Bowl wins game (VIDEO)

Derek Jeter was nowhere near Yankee Stadium on Saturday but, his aura seemed to play a big part in Penn State's one-point victory over Boston College in an exciting Pinstripe Bowl finish.

Penn State kicker Sam Ficken gave the Nittany Lions the overtime win, hitting an extra point to give the Lions the come-from-behind win, 31-30.

Sam Ficken, who used Derek Jeter’s locker in the clubhouse, delivers the #walkoff in overtime. #PSUvsBC pic.twitter.com/Zs3JbjiA4d
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) December 28, 2014

So what might seem like more than just coincidence, out of all the lockers at Yankee Stadium, Ficken used the retired Yankee icon's old space for the game.

And apparently, beside Jeter's cologne residue, some of his mystical powers rubbed off on the senior kicker too.

You might remember plenty of the Captain's magical moments in the Bronx including Jeter's final hit during his last game at Yankee Stadium (above) against the Orioles. And now, the player who uses his locker, kicks the winning extra point for the final kick of his PSU career?

Hmm.

"It's kind of a funny thing," Ficken said after the game-winner.

Funny .... or destined?

Irish RB George Atkinson III suspended for Pinstripe Bowl after texting during a team meal: Report

Notre Dame will be without second-leading rusher George Atkinson III for Saturday's  Pinstripe Bowl matchup with Rutgers at Yankee Stadium, according to sbnation.com.

The school announced that Atkinson's suspension was due to a violation of team rules. The junior running back offered a more detailed explanation in a tweet, which he has since deleted.

Collegespun.com took a screen shot of Atkinson's Twitter page this morning that said, "For those of you who are wondering I was suspended from today's game for texting friends and family during team meal, as I did all season."

Atkinson had 93 carries for 555 yards and three touchdowns this season. His 6.0 yards per carry average led the Irish. Notre Dame has rotated its backs throughout the season, led by Cam McDaniel (135 carries for 625 yards and three TDs). Freshman Tarean Folston emerged late in the season and enters the Pinstripe Bowl with 71 carries for 397 yards and two touchdowns.

A surprising punishment for such a minor infraction especially since Rutgers brings the nation's fourth-best run defense into the game.

Rutgers accepts bid to play Notre Dame in Pinstripe Bowl

Rutgers accepted a bid to play Notre Dame in the Pinstripe Bowl, coach Kyle Flood announced after the Scarlet Knights' impressive 31-6 win against South Florida on Saturday.

Rutgers improved to 6-6 with the home win, earning a bowl bid for the eighth time in nine seasons. It was the Scarlet Knights most satisfying game in a long time after struggling to to earn that bowl-eligible sixth win. Rutgers had lost five of their last six games before finally breaking through with a win against the Bulls on Saturday.

“Probably the most complete game we played all year,” Flood said.

Notre Dame already accepted a bid to play in the Pinstripe Bowl, held in Yankee Stadium on Dec. 28, Saturday morning. The Fighting Irish are a replacement team for the Big 12 after the league was unable to fill it's spot with a seventh bowl eligible team.

Kyle Flood and Julie Hermann got the official invitation for @RFootball to play Notre Dame in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl!
— Jason Baum (@JasonBaumRU) December 8, 2013

The Pinstripe Bowl has the No. 4 pick from the American, a selection that is leftover from its previous agreement with the Big East. Inviting Notre Dame and Rutgers makes sense when you consider that the game will feature ACC and Big Ten teams moving forward, as the Fighting Irish will have access to the ACC's bowl ties as a partial member and the Scarlet Knights will be members of the Big Ten in 2013.

For Rutgers, it's another trip up I-95 and over the George Washington Bridge to the Bronx for the second time in three years.