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Penn State Football: Grading the Nittany Lions vs. Iowa

By Dylan Burd

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scrambles on a keeper in the second half in front of linebacker Nick Niemann #49 and defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions scrambles on a keeper in the second half in front of linebacker Nick Niemann #49 and defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lionsthrows a pass in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lionsthrows a pass in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes, on October 12, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

B. . . . SEAN CLIFFORD

What a roller coaster ride of a game it was for Sean Clifford. Clifford had no yards on 0/4 passing in the first quarter. Also, he was sacked twice, missed some open receivers, and failed to read the option well. It was very clear that Clifford was rattled early.

However, Sean Clifford then did what some first-year quarterbacks fail to do when put on a big stage. He settled in, and he deserves all the credit in the world for that.

In the last three quarters of play, Clifford was 12/20 through the air with 117 yards and a touchdown. He also ended the game with 52 rushing yards on 16 carries. Most importantly, Sean Clifford didn’t turn the ball over.

Sean Clifford may not be Trace McSorley when it comes to running the football, but he’s improved on that in each game of the season. Three of Clifford’s runs went for first downs in this game, and when you’re playing in Iowa City at night, every first down matters.

I’m not going to sit here and act like Sean Clifford played out of his mind, but for a first-year quarterback in one of the harshest environments in college football, he did an excellent job.

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