It was a bittersweet day for Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford as he led Penn State football to a 35-21 blowout win over the Utah Uts in the team’s final game at the Rose Bowl Monday night.
Clifford walked off the field late in the contest to a loud standing ovation from Penn State football fans. The Nittany Lions had already won a de facto victory.
Thank you Sean Clifford. pic.twitter.com/XuhltvJS0P
— Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) January 3, 2023
Clifford, 24, put in a great performance against Penn State in Utah. He ended up with 279 passing yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions on 16 of 21 pass completions. He had zero turnovers in the game.
Pennsylvania State and the Utes were separated by just a touchdown and an extra point at the start of the fourth quarter, but Clifford ran wide early in the period to give the Nittany Lions the breather they needed. He sent a touchdown pass to receiver Ki Andre Lambert Smith. After stopping at the other side of the field, Penn State scored again on Kaytron Allen’s touchdown run to give the Nittany Lions a 14-point lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Penn State ended the 2022 college football season with an 11-2 record overall. This was his most since 2019 when he went 11-2.
Clifford, who began his college football career in 2018, will pass Trace Mussorley in 2022 to become the all-time leader in passing yards in Pennsylvania State football.