No. 12 Penn State beats No. 20 Auburn, 28-20, in White Out game

No. 12 Penn State made its 2nd defeat of a rated opponent in three games by taking down No. 20 Auburn 28-20 for a rare victory against an SEC group. Senior quarterback Sean Clifford threw for 280 lawns and also two goals, while carrying a lot of the offensive load as the Nittany Lions had a hard time to establish their running game.

The triumph versus Auburn was the very first versus the SEC for Penn State since defeating LSU in the Citrus Dish at the end of the 2009 season. Its last regular-season defeat of an SEC team came in 1990 at Alabama. And it came during the annual White Out game.

Clifford, who was benched during the team's five-game losing touch at the start of last season, was flawless throughout, consisting of completions on his very first 12 passes of the second half while leading 2 goal drives.

He beat counterpart Bo Nix, who was 21-of-37 for 171 lawns, as Auburn shed for the first time in Bryan Harsin's initial period after very easy success against Akron and Alabama State when the Tigers racked up 60 factors in both games.

POINT OF VIEW: Yes, Alabama looked prone against Florida. Why it's still the team to beat.

EVALUATION: Battling Irish undefeated, however have to improve quick to remain in opinion

EVALUATION: Bearcats reveal Team of Five can have role in CFP - if they get by Notre Dame

Penn State opened the racking up in the second fifty percent with the assistance of a fumble by Auburn receiver Kobe Hudson, who was looking to throw on a technique play on the very first snap of the third quarter. The Nittany Lions recuperated on the Tigers 20 and also scored 4 plays later Tyler Warren's 2-yard run. Noah Cain's 4-yard goal placed the Nittany Lions ahead 28-20 in the 4th quarter, establishing the stage for a key defensive stand.

Auburn drove to the Penn State 2, yet NIx's fourth-down pass to Hudson in the end zone was incomplete The Tigers would certainly get the ball back for one final drive, reaching the Nittany Lions 26. But Nix's pass as time ran out was torn down. The initial half went back and also forth as Auburn racked up initially on a 45-yard basket by Anders Carlson on its opening drive after quiting Penn State on a fourth-and-1.

The Nittany Lions responded with Clifford going 4-for-4 for 73 lawns on a touchdown drive that was capped by Jahan Dotson's 4-yard catch.

Container Bigsby put the Tigers back in advance with a 4-yard goal run in the 2nd quarter prior to Clifford found Brenton Strange for a 2-yard rating to place Penn State in advance 14-10 at the break.

Nix had simply 99 backyards passing at the break as the Nittany Lions outgained Auburn 259-158.

Adhere to universities reporter Erick Smith on Twitter @ericksmith