| Year: | 2022 |
| Team: | Penn State Nittany Lions |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Division: | East Division |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 11–2 |
| Conf Record: | 7–2 |
| Coachrank: | 7 |
| Aprank: | 7 |
| Hc Year: | 9th |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Codc1 Year: | 2nd |
| Champion: | Rose Bowl champion |
The 2022 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The team was led by ninth-year head coach James Franklin.[1] The Nittany Lions entered the season unranked for the first time since 2016.[2] Prior to the season, the team recruited the former number one quarterback Drew Allar, and the number one running back Nicholas Singleton.[3]
The Nittany Lions sought to improve from their previous disappointing season, where after starting 5–0, went on to lose six out of their last eight games, culminating in a loss to Arkansas in the Outback Bowl. Despite losing impact players such as Jahan Dotson, Arnold Ebiketie, and Jaquan Brisker to the NFL Draft, the Nittany Lions rebounded going 10–2, only losing to top 4 ranked Michigan and Ohio State, securing them a place in the Rose Bowl, where they would beat Utah to win their first Rose Bowl since 1995,[4] ending the season 11–2.[5] This marked Coach James Franklin's third New Years Six win with the Nittany Lions, and his first Rose Bowl win.[6]
See also: 2022 NFL draft.
| Tyler Rudolph | S | |
| Enzo Jennings | S | Unknown |
| Des Holmes | OL | Arizona State |
| Ta'Quan Roberson | QB | UConn |
| Norval Black | WR | Saint Francis |
| Joseph Appiah Darkwa | DL | Temple |
| Justin Weller | WR | Long Island |
| Noah Cain | RB | LSU |
| A.J. Lytton | CB | Unknown |
| Hunter Nourzad | OL | |
| Chop Robinson | DL | |
| Mitchell Tinsley | WR | |
Transfer References:[7]
See main article: 2022 college football recruiting class. Going into the 2022 season, the Nittany Lions have the #6 overall recruiting class in the country, and the #2 overall in the Big Ten.[8]
Recruiting Reference
Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2022 poll, Penn State was projected to finish third in the East Division.[9]
| Media poll (East Division) | |||
| 1 | Ohio State | 252 (36) | |
| 2 | Michigan | 203 | |
| 3 | Penn State | 169 | |
| 4 | Michigan State | 162 | |
| 5 | Maryland | 104 | |
| 6 | Rutgers | 60 | |
| 7 | Indiana | 58 | |
| Head Coach | East Stroudsburg University (1995) | 9th | ||
| Defensive coordinator/linebackers | Florida State (1995) | 1st | ||
| Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach | California University of Pennsylvania (1999) | 2nd | ||
| Stacy Collins | Special teams coordinator/outside linebackers/Nickels | Western Oregon University (1998) | 1st | |
| Assistant head coach/defensive recruiting coordinator/cornerbacks | Penn State University (1991) | 9th | ||
| Tight ends coach | Penn State University (2013) | 3rd | ||
| Co-defensive coordinator/safeties | University of Virginia (1999) | 2nd | ||
| Run game coordinator/defensive line | Western Carolina University (2000) | 3rd | ||
| Co-offensive coordinator/running backs | West Virginia University (2000) | 5th | ||
| Offensive recruiting coordinator/wide receivers | Purdue University (2004) | 3rd | ||
| Offensive line | University of Florida (2007) | 3rd | ||
| David Parker | Graduate Assistant | University of Arkansas (2015) | 1st | |
| Graduate Assistant | Penn State University (2014) | 2nd |
See also: 2022 Purdue Boilermakers football team.
To open the season, the Nittany Lions went on the road to West Layfette to play the Purdue Boilermakers. In recent years, Purdue has been known as "The Spoilermakers," defeating high ranked opponents includingPurdue received the ball at the beginning of the third quarter, scoring another touchdown via a 2-yard run from running back King Doerue. Upon receiving the ball, backup quarterback Drew Allar, the former number 1 rated quarterback of his high school class, made his debut for the Nittany Lions after Clifford experienced leg cramps as a result of a tackle made in the last minutes of the second quarter. Clifford was able to return to the game on the following drive.[16] Purdue was able to throw a 7-yard pass to Charlie Jones for a touchdown, giving Purdue a 24–21 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Nittany Lions quickly responded with a 29-yard touchdown pass to KeAndre Lambert-Smith, giving them a 28–24 lead. The Boilermakers were forced to punt, then Clifford threw an interception to Chris Jefferson, who returned it for a 72-yard defensive touchdown, giving Purdue a 31–28 lead. The Nittany Lions were given one final chance to win the game, having 2:22 left in the fourth, and 2 timeouts, Sean Clifford was able to march them down the field and throw a 10-yard touchdown to Keyvone Lee, ending the game at 35–31.[17] [18]
Despite throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown, Sean Clifford was named Big Ten co-offensive player of the week, after he completed 20-of-37 passes for 282 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns.[19]
See also: 2022 Ohio Bobcats football team.
See also: 2022 Auburn Tigers football team.
See also: 2022 Central Michigan Chippewas football team.
See also: 2022 Northwestern Wildcats football team.
See also: 2022 Michigan Wolverines football team.
See also: 2022 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.
See also: 2022 Ohio State Buckeyes football team and Ohio State–Penn State football rivalry.
See also: 2022 Indiana Hoosiers football team.
See also: 2022 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–Penn State football rivalry.
See also: 2022 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team.
See also: 2022 Michigan State Spartans football team and Michigan State–Penn State football rivalry.
See also: 2022 Utah Utes football team and 2023 Rose Bowl.
See also: 2023 NFL draft.
| 2 | 32 | CB | Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
| 2 | 61 | TE | Jacksonville Jaguars | ||
| 2 | 62 | C | Houston Texans | ||
| 3 | 87 | S | San Francisco 49ers | ||
| 5 | 149 | QB | Green Bay Packers | ||
| 6 | 185 | WR | Jacksonville Jaguars |