TAMPA, Fla. - The Penn State football team fell 24-10 against No. 22/24/21 Arkansas on Saturday in the Outback Bowl in Raymond James Stadium. Penn State ended the season with a 7-6 record.
The Nittany Lions went into halftime with a 10-7 lead, but a strong rushing attack by Arkansas helped the Razorbacks to a victory.
Sean Clifford completed 14-of-32 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and added 47 rushing yards. Parker Washington hauled in seven catches for 98 yards, while KeAndre Lambert-Smith had three receptions for 74 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
Ji'Ayir Brown led the Penn State defense with two interceptions, both in the first half, and six tackles. Curtis Jacobs recorded a career-high 10 tackles, including a sack, and Nick Tarburton had a career-best seven tackles with two for loss and a sack. Smith Vilbert set a Penn State bowl record, and tied the Outback Bowl record, with three sacks.
The 2021 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State found themselves in the red zone on its first drive after Clifford found Washington deep for a 42-yard gain. Arkansas would force Penn State into a missed field goal attempt.
The Penn State defense forced a turnover on the ensuing drive when Ji'Ayir Brown intercepted a KJ Jefferson pass in the end zone.
Arkansas followed with a turnover of its own when Clifford was intercepted by Greg Brooks Jr.
The Razorbacks got on the board in the closing seconds of the first quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Raheim Sanders.
The Nittany Lions evened the score with 10:53 remaining in the second when Clifford found a wide open Lambert-Smith downfield for a 42-yard touchdown.
Penn State took its first lead of the day later in the second on a 33-yard field goal by Jake Pinegar.
After Penn State turned the ball over on downs on a failed fake punt attempt, Ji'Ayir Brown recorded his second interception of the game to close out the first half. Penn State led 10-7 at halftime.
Arkansas re-took the lead on the opening drive of the second half on an 8-yard touchdown run by Jefferson. The Razorbacks extended their lead to seven midway through the third on a 36-yard field goal by Cam Little.
The Razorbacks pushed the lead to 24-10 with 2:08 to go in the third on a 1-yard touchdown by Sanders. Arkansas got a key turnover in the opening minutes of the fourth on an interception by Joe Foucha in the end zone.
