Quarterbacks: Wins & Losses
Penn State’s All-time QBs Win/Loss Records—
Winningest Career Starting QBs—
Sean Clifford (2019-22): 32-14 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-1)
Trace McSorley (2016-18): 31-9 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-2)
Todd Blackledge (1980-82): 29-4 (Post-Season/Bowls: 3-0)
Tony Sacca (1988-91): 29-10-1 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-1)
Chuck Fusina (1976-78): 28-3 (Post-Season/Bowls: 1-2)
John Hufnagel (1970-72): 26-3 (Post-Season/Bowls: 1-1)
Drew Allar (2023-25): 26-9 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-3 / 2-1 in CFP)
John Shaffer (1984-86): 25-1 (Post-Season/Bowls: 1-1)
Chuck Burkhart (1968-69): 22-0 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-0)
Tom Shuman (1973-74): 22-2 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-0)
Daryll Clark (2008-09): 22-4 (Post-Season/Bowls: 1-1)
Kerry Collins (1992-94): 21-5 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-1)
Wally Richardson (1993, 1995-96): 21-5 (Post-Season/Bowls: 2-0)
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15): 21-17 (Post-Season/Bowls: 1-1)
Most Wins by Starting QBs in Single Season—
13 wins—Drew Allar in 2024 (13-3 with 11 wins in regular season)—CFP Semifinalists
12 wins—Tom Shuman in 1973 (12-0 with 11 wins in regular season)
12 wins—John Shaffer in 1986 (12-0 with 11 wins in regular season)—Consensus National Champions
12 wins—Kerry Collins in 1994 (12-0 with 11 wins in regular season)—1st Big Ten Champions/NYT National Champions
11 wins—Chuck Burkhart 1968 & 1969 (undefeated seasons), John Hufnagel 1971, Chuck Fusina 1977 & 1978, Todd Blackledge 1982, John Shaffer 1985, Tony Sacca 1991, Wally Richardson 1996, Michael Robinson 2005, Daryll Clark 2008 & 2009, Trace McSorley 2016 & 2017, Sean Clifford 2022
Most Games Started by a QB in Career—
46 starts—Sean Clifford (2019-22)
40 starts—Trace McSorley (2016-18)
40 starts—Tony Sacca (1988-91)
38—Christian Hackenberg (2013-15)
35—Drew Allar (2023-25)
34—Zack Mills (2001-04)
33—Todd Blackledge (1980-82)
31—Chuck Fusina (1976-78)
Most Career Losses by Starting QBs—
Zack Mills (2001-04): 18 in 34 starts (PSU’s only Modern Era lefthanded starting QB)
Christian Hackenberg (2013-15): 17 in 38 starts
Sean Clifford (2019-22): 14 in 46 starts
LINK HERE TO PASSING YARDS RECORDS
Penn Starting QBs in Modern Era (since 1950)—
1950-Vince O’Bara… 1951-Bob Szajna… 1952-Tony Rados (transfer from Notre Dame)… 1953-Tony Rados… 1954-Don Bailey… 1955-Bobby Hoffman… 1956-Milt Plum… 1957-Al Jacks, Richie Lucas… 1958-Richie Lucas… 1959-Richie Lucas… 1960-Galen Hall… 1961-Galen Hall… 1962-Pete Liske… 1963-Pete Liske… 1964-Gary Wydman… 1965-Jack White (transfer from Florida)… 1966-Jack White, Tom Sherman… 1967-Tom Sherman… 1968-Chuck Burkhart… 1969-Chuck Burkhart… 1970-Mike Cooper, John Hufnagel… 1971-John Hufnagel… 1972-John Hufnagel… 1973-Tom Shuman… 1974-Tom Shuman… 1975-John Andress… 1976-John Andress, Chuck Fusina… 1977-Chuck Fusina… 1978-Chuck Fusina… 1979-Dayle Tate, Frank Rocco… 1980-Jeff Hostetler, Todd Blackledge… 1981-Todd Blackledge… 1982-Todd Blackledge… 1983-Doug Strang, Dan Lonergan… 1984-Doug Strang, John Shaffer… 1985-John Shaffer… 1986-John Shaffer… 1987-Matt Knizner… 1988-Tom Bill, Tony Sacca, Lance Lonergan… 1989-Tony Sacca, Tom Bill… 1990-Tony Sacca… 1991-Tony Sacca… 1992-John Sacca, Kerry Collins, Wally Richardson… 1993-John Sacca, Kerry Collins… 1994-Kerry Collins… 1995-Wally Richardson… 1996-Wally Richardson… 1997-Mike McQueary… 1998-Kevin Thompson… 1999-Kevin Thompson, Rashard Casey… 2000-Rashard Casey… 2001-Matt Senneca, Zack Mills… 2002-Zack Mills… 2003-Zack Mills, Michael Robinson… 2004-Zack Mills, Michael Robinson… 2005-Michael Robinson… 2006-Anthony Morelli… 2007-Anthony Morelli… 2008-Daryll Clark… 2009-Daryll Clark… 2010-Rob Bolden, Matt McGloin… 2011-Rob Bolden, Matt McGloin… 2012-Matt McGloin… 2013-Christian Hackenberg… 2014-Christian Hackenberg… 2015-Christian Hackenberg… 2016-Trace McSorley… 2017-Trace McSorley… 2018-Trace McSorley… 2019-Sean Clifford, Will Levis… 2020-Sean Clifford, Will Levis… 2021-Sean Clifford… 2022-Sean Clifford… 2023-Drew Allar… 2024-Drew Allar… 2025-Drew Allar, Ethan Grunkemeyer… 2026-Projected-Rocco Becht (transfer from Iowa State)…
Brothers Who Were Starting QBs at PSU in Modern Era—
Dan Lonergan (1980-83) & Lance Lonergan (1985-88)—Dan Lonergan started the 1983 Cincinnati game after Doug Strang struggled in a season opening loss to Nebraska in the Kickoff Classic—Strang regained the job after the loss to Cincy—Lance Lonergan started several games in 1988 as Joe Paterno rotated QBs due to injury and inexperience
Tony Sacca (1988-91) & John Sacca (1990-93)—After 2 seasons of shared duties, Tony Sacca established himself as the top QB for the 1990 & 1991 seasons (setting a number of PSU passing records)—John Sacca hoped to follow his brother, but he struggled at times and ultimately lost the battle with Kerry Collins for the job in 1993—John was benched and replaced by Collins in the win over Iowa that season, and contemporary media reported that he stopped attending meetings and practice—Oct., 7, 1993, Paterno publicly stated that John was done at Penn State—Sacca transferred to Eastern Kentucky to complete his career
Starting QBs Who Transferred to Penn State from Other Schools (Modern Era)—
Tony Rados—transferred from Notre Dame ahead of the 1951 season and started for Penn State in 1952 & ‘53
Jack White—transferred from Florida ahead of 1964 season and started in 1965 & first 3 games of 1966 season before being replaced by Tom Sherman
Rocco Becht—transferred via the Portal from Iowa State in January 2026 to re-join new PSU Head Coach Matt Campbell as starting QB for 2026 season
Starting QBs Who Transferred to Other Schools to Complete Careers—
Jeff Hostetler—departed after the 1980 season in which he started 3 games before giving way to Todd Blackledge—Hostetler headed for then-rival West Virginia where he started for 2 seasons (he would lose both games he played against Penn State in 1982 & ‘83)—Jeff would go on to a successful NFL career winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants
John Sacca—left team during 1993 season following being replaced by Kerry Collins after 3 starts & he transferred to Eastern Kentucky
Rob Bolden—after 2 seasons of mixed results and battles with Matt McGloin for the #1 job, Rob departed prior to 2012 season after new PSU Head Coach Bill O’Brien opted to go with McGloin as the top QB—Bolden initially transferred to LSU for one season and then moved to Eastern Michigan (there were media reports that Bolden attempted to leave PSU after the 2010 season, but Paterno would not release him from his scholarship)
Will Levis—after 2 seasons with 2 spot starts in a reserve role behind Sean Clifford as a running QB, Levis transferred to Kentucky in 2021 for 2 seasons where he evolved into an NFL prospect and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2023—In his starting debut for the Titans, Levis became only the 3rd QB in NFL history to throw 4 TDs in his first start in a win over the Atlanta Falcons
Ethan Grunkemeyer—took over from the injured Drew Allar 6-games into the 2025 season and led PSU to 4 wins—Grunk opted to transfer to Virginia Tech after that season to re-join former PSU Head Coach James Franklin—The arrival of Iowa State starter Rocco Becht with new PSU Head Coach Matt Campbell may have also played a role in Ethan’s departure
Nittany Notes:
Zack Mills QB (2001-04) has the unfortunate distinction of owning the record for most losses by a starting quarterback (18 in 34 starts over 4 seasons)… But, luckily for him, Penn State’s lone lefty starter is better remembered for some really great performances…
Without question, Zack’s biggest moment came on October 27, 2001 at Beaver Stadium… Penn State (1-4) vs. Ohio State… The Buckeyes lead 27-9 in the 3rd quarter with 11:39 to go… The Nittany Lions are at their own 31-yard line looking at 2nd down and 14… The true Freshman Mills is in the shotgun with Larry Johnson off to his right… Zack takes the snap and never looks at LJ who had made a move towards the sideline possibly expecting the pitch… Zack steps right through the hole on the right-side and easily hops over a blocker and defender who had fallen at about the 36… Mills charges right down the sidelines untouched to the endzone with LJ escorting him all the way…. 69 yards for the score as PSU rallied to shock OSU, 29-27 and give Joe Paterno legendary win #324 to pass Bear Bryant… It remains one of the longest QB runs from scrimmage in PSU history… At the time, only John Sacca’s 75-yard run in the 1991 win over Cincinnati was a longer run by a QB in the Modern Era (since 1950)… Zack rushed 15 times for 138 yards and that TD against the Buckeyes setting a then-PSU Modern QB single game rushing record… It would be his lone 100-yard rushing game at Penn State… Penn State generated 418 yards in total offense in the comeback to beat OSU…
Note: Zack’s 138-yards vs. Ohio State broke the previous Modern Era QB rushing record of 113 yards by Tony Sacca in the 1990 win over Pitt. Zack’s record was later broken by Trace McSorley who rushed for 175 yards against Ohio State in 2018…