POSTGAME NOTES: Penn State vs. AuburnPOSTGAME NOTES: Penn State vs. Auburn
Craig Houtz

POSTGAME NOTES: Penn State vs. Auburn

TEAM

  • With wins over No. 12/15 Wisconsin and No. 22/20 Auburn, Penn State has two wins over ranked teams within the first three games of the season for the first time in program history.
  • Penn State earned its first regular season win over an SEC team since a road victory at Alabama in 1990 (9-0).
  • Penn State has won 18-straight non-conference home games, dating back to a win over Kent State in 2013.
  • Penn State is now 2-1 all-time against Auburn.
  • The Nittany Lions moved to 24-23 against current members of the SEC.
  • Penn State is now 5-5 when ESPN's College GameDay is on campus.
  • The Nittany Lions are now 7-6 in Penn State White Out games.
  • Penn State has won 12 consecutive games against non-conference teams during the regular season, dating back to a win over Temple in 2016.
  • Penn State welcomed 109,958 fans. It was the 10th-largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history.

 
OFFENSE


Team

  • Penn State completed 29 passes. That is tied for the sixth-most in the James Franklin era with the Northwestern (2017) and Maryland (2019) games.
  • The Nittany Lions scored on a 14-play, 91-yard drive covering 6:49 in the second quarter. It was Penn State's longest drive for plays and yards since a 16-play, 98-yard drive against Maryland in 2020.
  • The 6:49 drive was Penn State's longest since a scoring drive covering 7:01 against Indiana in 2020.
  • In the second quarter, Jahan Dotson completed a 22-yard pass to Tyler Warren. It was Penn State's first pass by a non-quarterback since Saquon Barkley completed a 20-yard throw to Mike Gesicki against Michigan State in 2017.
  • Penn State's 302 passing yards are the most by the Nittany Lions since Penn State threw for 327 vs. Illinois in 2020.
  • Penn State was 4-4 in the red zone, bringing the blue and white to 10-11 on the season.

 
Sean Clifford

  • QB Sean Clifford had a career-high 28 completions. His previous high was 27 against Maryland last season.
  • Clifford 280 passing yards mark his 14th career 200-yard passing game. That moved him into a tie for sixth all-time at Penn State with Daryll Clark (2006-09).
  • QB Sean Clifford threw touchdown passes to Jahan Dotson (4 yards) and Brenton Strange (2 yards) in the first half. It was his 12th career multi-touchdown half.
  • Clifford's 280 passing yards gave him 5,489 for his career, moving him into the seventh spot all-time at Penn State.
  • Clifford's two touchdown passes give him 45 for his career, moving him into sole possession of fourth place at Penn State.
  • With his 28 completions, Clifford moved into seventh place on the career completion chart with 413.
  • Clifford had 32 pass attempts on the night, raising his total to 671 for his career and moving him into ninth at Penn State.
  • Clifford was responsible for two touchdowns, giving him 54 touchdowns responsible for in his career and moving him into a tie for fourth with Saquon Barkley (2015-17).

 
Jahan Dotson

  • WR Jahan Dotson had a career-best 10 receptions. His previous high was nine last year vs. Maryland.
  • He's the first Penn State player with 10 catches in a game since Saquon Barkley caught 12 passes against Iowa in 2017.
  • Dotson is the first Penn State wide receiver with 10 catches in a game since DaeSean Hamilton logged 14 against Ohio State in 2014.
  • Dotson's 10 catches give him 112 for his career, moving him into 12th place all-time at Penn State.
  • Dotson hauled in a 4-yard touchdown grab in the first quarter. It was Dotson's 16th career touchdown reception, putting him in a tie for eighth all-time at Penn State with OJ McDuffie (1988-92) and Pat Freiermuth (2018-20).
  • Dotson has a touchdown reception in four straight games. He has a touchdown in five straight games (81-yard punt return vs Michigan State). It marks the second time in his career he's put together a five-game touchdown streak, as he also did in 2019-20 (Rutgers and Memphis in 2019; Indiana, Ohio State and Maryland in 2020).
  • Dotson's 78 receiving yards gives him 1,820 for his career, moving him into 14th place at Penn State.
  • Dotson recorded his first career pass completion and attempt on a 22-yard throw to Tyler Warren in the second quarter.
  • Dotson has caught at least one pass in 32-straight games, dating back to Indiana game (10/20/18).

 
Noah Cain

  • RB Noah Cain scored on a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter. It was Cain's 11th career rushing touchdown.
  • Cain has scored a rushing touchdown in all three games this season.

 
Tyler Warren

  • TE Tyler Warren scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter. It was his first career rushing touchdown and first career rushing attempt.
  • Warren also had his first career reception, a 22-yard grab in the second quarter.

 
Brenton Strange

  • TE Brenton Strange hauled in a career-long 40-yard reception in the fourth quarter. His previous long reception was 28 yards against Iowa in 2020.
  • Strange tied a career-high with four receptions. He also had four grabs vs. Illinois in 2020.
  • Strange's 71 receiving yards are a career high, bettering his previous mark of 45 yards vs. Michigan State in 2020.

 
Parker Washington

  • WR Parker Washington has caught a pass in all 12 games of his career.
  • He finished with eight grabs for 49 yards.

 
Theo Johnson

  • TE Theo Johnson had a career-long 37-yard reception in the second quarter. His previous long reception was 23 yards in two games with the last coming against Ball State.

 
KeAndre Lambert-Smith

  • WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith tied a career high with four receptions. He previously had four catches on two occasions, the last at Wisconsin in the 2021 season opener.

 
DEFENSE
 
Team

  • Penn State held Auburn to a 2-of-3 showing in the red-zone, improving its red-zone defense to five occasions with no points on 11 total trips.
  • The Nittany Lions recovered a second fumble this season in the third quarter. Penn State has six takeaways in its first three games.

 
Jesse Luketa

  • LB Jesse Luketa matched a career high with one tackle for loss. He had one tackle for loss in two previous games with the last coming against Rutgers in 2020.
  • With three tackles in the first quarter, Luketa surpassed the 100 career tackles mark. Luketa finished the night with eight tackles and now has 107 career tackles.

 
Brandon Smith

  • LB Brandon Smith set a career high with 10 tackles. His previous best was eight, on two occasions, with the last coming at Wisconsin.
  • Smith tied a career high with one pass breakup. He previously had one pass breakup in 2020 at Rutgers.

 
Derrick Tangelo

  • DT Derrick Tangelo recovered a fumble in the third quarter. It was his fourth career fumble recovery and first as a Nittany Lion.

 
Jaquan Brisker

  • S Jaquan Brisker had six tackles, moving him to 101 for his career.

 
SPECIAL TEAMS


Jordan Stout

  • K/P Jordan Stout averaged 50.0 yards per punt on four punts. Stout has averaged at least 50 yards per punt in all three games this season.
  • Stout hit a 51-yard punt in the first quarter and a 58-yard punt in the second quarter. He now has 12 career punts of 50 or more yards.
  • The 58-yard punt was downed at the Auburn 9 yard-line. It was Stout's ninth career punt, and second this season, inside the 20 yard-line.
  • Stout has 23 straight touchbacks dating back to the Illinois game (12/19/20).

 
Jahan Dotson

  • PR Jahan Dotson has a 17.8 career punt return average on 15 returns (267 yards). With a 16-yard return tonight, he now has 15 career returns, qualifying for first on the all-time list at Penn State.