Penn State football: 5 Players that are key to a win over Michigan

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 05: KJ Hamler #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – OCTOBER 05: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Beaver Stadium on October 5, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

3. Sean Clifford, QB

It feels like we say this every week, but it is true — this is Sean Clifford’s toughest battle to date. The first few games were against easier teams, but the last matchup was against a Top-25 ranked squad. And guess what? Clifford looked flustered in the beginning.

Eventually, the redshirt sophomore was able to settle down and play a lot better, but he still needed a ton of help from his defense and from his own legs as well. Granted, Kinnick Stadium is a harsh environment for any college passer to play — but Clifford needs to be able to settle into his role a lot quicker and shake the nerves early on.

The good news for Clifford is that this week, Penn State will be playing at home. Therefore, the crowd won’t make life difficult for him. However, this game still won’t be a breeze for him, as Michigan is the best opponent to face the Lions this week regardless. Once again, we’ll find out more about Clifford as he takes on a stellar opponent.

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