Sean Clifford on Penn State in 2025: ‘This is a championship team’

Sean Clifford ended his time with Penn State football on top, winning the Rose Bowl and helping to spark the program’s current wave of success over the last three seasons. This fall, the former Nittany Lions quarterback sees the potential for the 2025 roster to culminate the journey that began three years ago in Pasadena.

Returning to Happy Valley for spring practice last week, Clifford says the feeling around the Lasch Football Building is palpable.

“At the end of the day, this group – I’ve been here three days – and the culture that is going on right now; let’s just be honest: this team is special,” he said. “Everybody in here knows it. I can feel it. And I think y’all are even talking about it, right? This is a championship team… It’s very clear to me that this team right here is special.”

Penn State football has gone a combined 34-8 since Clifford’s senior season in 2022, winning at least 10 regular season games each year.

The Nittany Lions made their first College Football Playoff in 2024, reaching the semifinals before falling short to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. A game that was decided by one possession, Clifford emphasized the fractional margin between where the program ended in 2024 and where it wants to go in 2025.

“We all know you got those 12, 13 games, right? And it all comes down to one or two plays. And it’s going to be the little details that I see on the sideline. The little details – it’s player-to-player led – and I can see it. We got a long way to go. Keep pushing.”

Penn State is already an early favorite to reach the national title game this season.

You can watch Clifford’s full message to the Nittany Lions below.

Something special in Happy Valley.#WeAre x @SeanCliff14 pic.twitter.com/LaiYNiLwnK

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) April 12, 2025

Penn State football enters its penultimate week of spring practice on Tuesday. The spring transfer portal period officially begins on Wednesday, opening the door for roster turnover in the days leading up to April 26’s Blue-White Game. The Nittany Lions have already seen their first departure, with veteran offensive lineman JB Nelson leaving the team last Thursday.

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