It would be hard to live up to the pre-game expectations that were out there for last night’s matchup between No. 10 Penn State and No. 22 Auburn.
Beaver Stadium would be packed with Penn State’s first White Out crowd since 2019, the national Game of the Week on ABC-TV, hundred of recruits in attendance and a matchup between teams in the Big Ten and SEC conference.
Despite all of that, Saturday night’s game lived up and possibly exceeded the hype as Sean Clifford led the Nittany Lions to a 28-20 win over Auburn. On the last play of the game, quarterback Bo Nix had his pass, intended for the end zone, broken up by Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker to secure the win.
Sean Clifford had one of his best performances in a Penn State uniform as he completed 28 of 32 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. Star wide receiver Jahan Dotson was Clifford’s top target catching 10 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Brenton Strange caught the other touchdown pass to go along with 4 catches for 71 yards.
Penn State led 14-10 at halftime and then took advantage of a big Auburn mistake as Derrick Tangelo recovered a fumble by Kobe Hudson, who was attempting a wide receiver option pass. Four plays later, tight end Tyler Warren scored on a 2-yard run and the Nittany Lions stretched their lead to 21-10.
Auburn scored the next 10 points to cut the lead to 21-20 before Penn State put the game away with a 3 yard touchdown run by Noah Cain. Highlights of that 9 play, 75 yard drive included a 18-yard pass from Clifford to John Lovett and a 40 yard pass to Strange.
Penn State upped their record to 3-0, with two of those wins over ranked teams (Wisconsin).
The crowd of 109,958 fans was the 10th largest crowd in the history of Beaver Stadium.
Next up for Penn State is a Noon game as they host Villanova before getting into Big 10 play.
