The Rose Bowl could be Sean Clifford’s storybook ending
Six years ago, at the beginning of the 2018 college football season, the world got its first glimpse at Sean Clifford in the Blue and White. Since then, Clifford and Penn State have had their ups and downs, but soon the story is coming to an end.
Sean Clifford is both loved and hated as a Penn State football player. On one hand, Clifford has not delivered in big moments quite often; the 6th-year senior was with PSU during the 2020-2021 seasons, which were subpar years, to say the least.
On the other hand, Clifford has also been around for seasons like 2019 (11-2, Cotton Bowl Champions) and 2022 (10-2, Rose Bowl game). He also is the Nittany Lions’ all-time passing leader, a record that he broke earlier this season.
Six years after throwing his first touchdown pass as a Penn Stater, Sean Clifford will suit up one final time. Given his up-and-down past at Penn State, the Rose Bowl could define Clifford’s legacy in the Blue and White, as well as be the storybook ending to his college football career.
Sean Clifford’s early career
2018
In 2018, Penn State football faced its in-state rival — the Pitt Panthers — during the Nittany Lions’ non-conference schedule. Just as it has been for decades, it was clear who runs the state of Pennsylvania, as Penn State ran Pitt out of its own (leased) stadium.
At the end of the game, Sean Clifford — the Nittany Lions’ new freshman backup — threw his first touchdown pass. It was a 34-yard bomb that gave Penn State a 51-6 lead and got Clifford’s career off to a hot start.
By season’s end, many were ready for Penn State to move on from Trace McSorley and were excited for the Clifford era to begin. Despite the Lions’ success in 2016 and 2017, Penn State fell to 9-3 overall and lost in the Citrus Bowl in McSorley’s senior season at Penn State.
2019
In Clifford’s first season as a starter, the 2019 season, Penn State football seemed to return to the top of its game. The Nittany Lions dropped games to Minnesota and Ohio State, yet still managed to defeat Michigan, Michigan State, and eventually Memphis in the Cotton Bowl.
The Cotton Bowl win got Penn State back inside of the top 10 to finish the season and got PSU back to 11 wins on the year.
During his sophomore season, Sean Clifford completed 189 of his 319 passes for 2,654 yards, 23 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Clifford finished the season with a passer rating of 148.5 — his best rating over the four years that he served as Penn State’s starting QB.