Penn State Football: 3 keys to victory vs. Ohio State in Week 13

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 16: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium on November 16, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

1. “Good” Sean Clifford must be present

Sean Clifford is not an efficient quarterback. He’s completing under 60 percent of his passes and against Top 25 competition, that rate plummets to 52 percent.

Penn State’s offense isn’t exactly built on efficiency; it’s built on the big play. Too often this season, it’s been built on K.J. Hamler or bust. Penn State receivers have dropped passes this season for sure, but Clifford has to play the game of his career.

The numbers, however, aren’t on his side. Clifford hasn’t completed 60 percent of his passes since Oct. 5 against Purdue. In 10 games this season, Clifford has completed 60 percent of his passes just four times. Two were against far inferior opponents — one of those was against FCS Idaho and one was against Group of Five Buffalo.

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Penn State’s offense can’t be Hamler or bust. Clifford has to find other receivers, they have to catch the ball, and he’s going to need time to do so. If Clifford is under duress without time to find secondary receivers, he will spend a lot of time admiring the lights in Ohio Stadium.

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