Sean Clifford finished his Penn State career in style on Monday, leading the Nittany Lions to a 35-21 drubbing of Utah in the Rose Bowl.
The game was tied at 14 in the third quarter but Penn State scored the next 21 points.
Nicholas Singleton broke the deadlock with an 87-yard run.
87 YARDS TO. THE. HOUSEโผ๏ธ
The third-longest TD run in Rose Bowl history ๐น pic.twitter.com/dlg15Lb8C2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 3, 2023
Then, Clifford found KeAndre Lambert on what turned out to be an 88-yard touchdown pass.
PENN STATE! Sean Clifford โก๏ธ KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the 88 yard TD! #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/6HzSmsqPTs
— ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐ช @๐๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ณ (@FTBeard7) January 3, 2023
The final score came on a short run.
Penn State coach James Franklin symbolically removed Clifford from the game to a huge ovation.
He hugged his brother Liam, a redshirt freshman wide receiver, as he left the field.
Great moment for Sean Clifford! James Franklin takes him out of the game and Clifford gets a standing ovation from Penn State fans in his final game with the Nittany Lions! #RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/6RoVNNkU72
— ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐ช @๐๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ณ (@FTBeard7) January 3, 2023
Sean Clifford's career at Penn State pic.twitter.com/IpAsNLN1JT
— ๐๐ข๐๐๐ข๐ช @๐๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ณ (@FTBeard7) January 3, 2023