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Penn State

James Franklin assesses Sean Clifford, knows he needs to play well against Michigan

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•10/12/22•

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AUBURN, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball downfield during the first half of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)

No. 10 Penn State is set to climb the biggest hill of its season thus far this Saturday against No. 5 Michigan, and head coach James Franklin believes the key to their offensive attack against the Wolverines lies in the hands of their star quarterback Sean Clifford.

“Sean [Clifford] has done some really good things. I think there’s some plays that he would like back, there’s no doubt about it,” Franklin said of his quarterback Tuesday. “But I think overall the way he has managed our offense, whether it’s the passing game and the protections, whether it’s the run game and getting everybody on the same page in terms of how we’re IDing the [defensive] front.

“Then it’s making those four to six plays a game that you need your quarterback to make, that the media, or the fan, or the coach would watch the game and say, ‘that was a critical play in the game that Sean was able to make for us.’ I think his entire career and his entire season kind of keeps building up and leading up to moments like this and opportunities like this.”

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On the season, Clifford has completed 62 percent of his passes (85-137) for 1,030 yards to go with a 9-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio along with four more scores on the ground. Only once this season has he thrown for over 220 yards in a game, and that was in the season opener over a month ago.

Last season against the Wolverines, Clifford attempted 43 passes and threw for just one touchdown and 205 yards in a heartbreaking 21-17 loss to Michigan. Franklin and the Nittany Lions will earn that win back this Saturday when the two teams meet in Ann Arbor, but it’ll be predicated on the performance of Clifford and those around him on offense.

“[Clifford] going out and playing well on Saturday, really all of our positions and all of our players, to win on the road against this type of opponent, we’re going to have to play well,” Franklin said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. That also includes our quarterback.”