Penn State defeated the Miami Hurricanes 14–10 in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win Joe Paterno's second consensus national championship.[1] The team was named national champion by AP, Billingsley, FB News, FW, Matthews, NCF, NFF, Sporting News, UPI, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by FACT, Sagarin (ELO-Chess).[2]
Schedule[]
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Temple | No. 6 | | TCS | W 45–15 | 85,732 |
September 20 | 7:00 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 5 | | ESPN | W 26–14 | 42,329 |
September 27 | 1:30 p.m. | East Carolina | No. 7 | | TCS | W 42–17 | 84,774 |
October 4 | 12:20 p.m. | Rutgers | No. 5 | | TCS | W 31–6 | 84,000 |
October 11 | 12:20 p.m. | Cincinnati | No. 5 | | TCS | W 23–17 | 84,812 |
October 18 | 1:30 p.m. | Syracuse | No. 6 | | TCS | W 42–3 | 85,512 |
October 25 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 2 Alabama | No. 6 | | ABC | W 23–3 | 60,210 |
November 1 | 7:30 p.m. | at West Virginia | No. 2 | | ESPN | W 19–0 | 59,184 |
November 8 | 1:00 p.m. | Maryland | No. 2 | | TCS | W 17–15 | 85,561 |
November 15 | 3:30 p.m. | at Notre Dame | No. 3 | | ABC | W 24–19 | 59,075 |
November 22 | 12:20 p.m. | Pittsburgh | No. 2 | | TCS | W 34–14 | 85,722 |
January 2, 1987 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Miami (FL) | No. 2 | | NBC | W 14–10 | 73,098 |
|
Rankings[]
AP Poll[]
Pre
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
Final
|
6 |
5 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1
|
UPI Poll[]
Pre
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
Final
|
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1
|
Game summaries[]
Temple[]
See also: 1986 Temple Owls football team
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
19–3–1
|
1985
|
PSU, 27–25
|
Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
Temple
|
0
|
6
|
0
|
9
|
15
|
#6 Penn State
|
21
|
3
|
14
|
7
|
45
|
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: September 6
- Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 85,732
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Boston College[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
12–1
|
1985
|
PSU, 16–12
|
Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
#5 Penn State
|
9
|
3
|
7
|
7
|
26
|
Boston College
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
14
|
at Sullivan Stadium
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
East Carolina[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
1–0
|
1985
|
PSU, 17–10
|
East Carolina vs. Penn State – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
East Carolina
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
14
|
17
|
#7 Penn State
|
14
|
21
|
0
|
7
|
42
|
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: September 27
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,774
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Rutgers[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
13–1
|
1985
|
PSU, 17–10
|
Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
Rutgers
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
6
|
6
|
#5 Penn State
|
14
|
3
|
7
|
7
|
31
|
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: October 4
- Game time: 12:20 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,000
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Cincinnati[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
2–1
|
1985
|
PSU, 31–10
|
Cincinnati vs. Penn State – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
Cincinnati
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
3
|
17
|
#5 Penn State
|
0
|
14
|
0
|
9
|
23
|
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: October 11
- Game time: 12:20 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,812
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
No scoring
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Syracuse[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
37–21–5
|
1985
|
PSU, 24–20
|
Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
Syracuse
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
3
|
#6 Penn State
|
17
|
9
|
21
|
7
|
54
|
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: October 18
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 85,512
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
#2 Alabama[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
3–5
|
1985
|
PSU, 19–17
|
Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- ALA – Tiffin, 40-yard field goal, (ALA 3–0)
- Second Quarter
- PSU – Dozier, 19-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–3)
- PSU – Thomas, 3-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–3)
- Third Quarter
- PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 17–3)
- Fourth Quarter
- PSU – Manca, 29-yard field goal, (PSU 20–3)
- PSU – Manca, 42-yard field goal, (PSU 23–3)
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
West Virginia[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
42–8–2
|
1985
|
PSU, 27–0
|
Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- PSU – Dozier, 23-yard TD pass from Shaffer, Manca kick good, 10:55 (PSU 7–0)
- Second Quarter
- PSU – Manca, 42-yard field goal, 12:08 (PSU 10–0)
- PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, 7:59 (PSU 13–0)
- Third Quarter
- PSU – Manca, 22-yard field goal, 6:04 (PSU 16–0)
- PSU – Manca, 27-yard field goal, 3:13 (PSU 19–0)
- Fourth Quarter
No scoring
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Maryland[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
28–1–5
|
1985
|
PSU, 20–18
|
Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
Maryland
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
12
|
15
|
#2 Penn State
|
0
|
7
|
0
|
10
|
17
|
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: November 8
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 85,651
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
No scoring
- Second Quarter
- PSU – Dozier, 1-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–0)
- Third Quarter
- MD – Plocki, 18-yard field goal, (PSU 7–3)
- Fourth Quarter
- PSU – Dozier, 9-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–3)
- MD – Joines, 16-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 14–9)
- PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 17–9)
- MD – Bonato, 27-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 17–15)
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Notre Dame[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
4–5–1
|
1985
|
PSU, 36–6
|
Penn State vs. Notre Dame – Game summary
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Pittsburgh[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
41–38–4
|
1985
|
PSU, 31–0
|
Pittsburgh vs. Penn State – Game summary
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
Total
|
Pittsburgh
|
7
|
0
|
0
|
7
|
14
|
#2 Penn State
|
10
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
34
|
at Beaver Stadium
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 12:20 PM EST
- Game attendance: 85,722
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
|
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
#1 Miami (FL) (Sunkist Fiesta Bowl)[]
Overall record
|
Last meeting
|
Result
|
5–3
|
1981
|
MIA, 17–14
|
Miami (FL) vs. Penn State – Game summary
Game information
|
- First Quarter
No scoring
- Second Quarter
- MIA – Bratton, 1-yard TD run, Seelig kick good, 6:38 (MIA 7–0)
- PSU – Shaffer, 4-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 1:14 (TIE 7–7)
- Third Quarter
No scoring
- Fourth Quarter
- MIA – Seelig, 38-yard field goal, 11:49 (MIA 10–7)
- PSU – Dozier, 6-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 8:13 (PSU 14–10)
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
|
|
|
Roster[]
1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
WR
|
9
|
Alexander, MikeMike Alexander
|
5.0 !Jr
|
T
|
74
|
Clayton, StanStan Clayton
|
5.0 !Jr
|
G
|
57
|
Conlin, ChrisChris Conlin
|
7.0 !Sr
|
RB
|
42
|
Dozier, D. J.D. J. Dozier
|
5.0 !Jr
|
C
|
78
|
Duffy, RogerRoger Duffy
|
1.0 !Fr
|
G
|
54
|
Frerotte, MitchMitch Frerotte
|
7.0 !Sr
|
FB
|
27
|
Hornyak, JohnJohn Hornyak
|
7.0 !Sr
|
FB
|
44
|
Manoa, TimTim Manoa
|
7.0 !Sr
|
G
|
59
|
Morgan, DanDan Morgan
|
7.0 !Sr
|
TE
|
89
|
Mrosko, BobBob Mrosko
|
3.0 !So
|
C
|
56
|
Radecic, KeithKeith Radecic
|
7.0 !Sr
|
WR
|
6
|
Roundtree, RayRay Roundtree
|
5.0 !Jr
|
QB
|
14
|
Shaffer, JohnJohn Shaffer
|
7.0 !Sr
|
RB
|
35
|
Smith, SteveSteve Smith
|
7.0 !Sr
|
G
|
79
|
Szott, DaveDave Szott
|
1.0 !Fr
|
RB
|
32
|
Thomas, BlairBlair Thomas
|
3.0 !So
|
WR
|
5
|
Timpson, MichaelMichael Timpson
|
3.0 !So
|
G
|
66
|
Wisniewski, SteveSteve Wisniewski
|
3.0 !So
|
C
|
72
|
Wolf, MikeMike Wolf
|
5.0 !Jr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
LB
|
35
|
Bauer, TreyTrey Bauer
|
5.0 !Jr
|
CB
|
16
|
Cobbs, DuffyDuffy Cobbs
|
7.0 !Sr
|
CB/S
|
43
|
Collins, AndreAndre Collins
|
1.0 !Fr
|
LB
|
31
|
Conlan, ShaneShane Conlan
|
7.0 !Sr
|
LB
|
90
|
Giftopoulos, PetePete Giftopoulos
|
5.0 !Jr
|
LB
|
53
|
Graham, DonDon Graham
|
7.0 !Sr
|
S
|
2
|
Helgeson, StuStu Helgeson
|
5.0 !Jr
|
H
|
3
|
Henderson, MarquesMarques Henderson
|
5.0 !Jr
|
S
|
22
|
Isom, RayRay Isom
|
7.0 !Sr
|
LB
|
55
|
Johnson, TimTim Johnson
|
7.0 !Sr
|
LB
|
52
|
Johns, GreggGregg Johns
|
5.0 !Jr
|
LB
|
84
|
Karpinski, KeithKeith Karpinski
|
5.0 !Jr
|
DB
|
21
|
Lewis, SidSid Lewis
|
7.0 !Sr
|
LB
|
92
|
McDonald, QuintusQuintus McDonald
|
3.0 !So
|
LB
|
33
|
Sweenely, JohnJohn Sweenely
|
3.0 !So
|
CB
|
19
|
Wilkerson, GaryGary Wilkerson
|
3.0 !So
|
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
P
|
11
|
Bruno, JohnJohn Bruno
|
7.0 !Sr
|
PK
|
10
|
Manca, MassimoMassimo Manca
|
7.0 !Sr
|
K
|
2
|
Tarasi, RayRay Tarasi
|
1.0 !Fr
|
SN
|
68
|
Truitt, GregGreg Truitt
|
5.0 !Jr
|
1986 National Champions (12-0)
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
}}
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
- Injured
- Redshirt
|
NFL Draft[]
Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL Draft.
Awards[]
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
- Paul "Bear" Bryant Award
Media[]
Radio[]
Flagship station
|
Play-by-play
|
Color commentator
|
Sideline reporter
|
Studio host
|
WMAJ AM 1450 |
Gil Santos Lanny Frattare |
|
|
|
References[]
v · d · e1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football—consensus national champions |
---|
| |
|
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