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1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Consensus national champion
Fiesta Bowl champion
Fiesta Bowl, W 14–10 vs. Miami (FL)
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
1986 record12–0
Head coachJoe Paterno (21st season)
Offensive coordinatorFran Ganter
Defensive coordinatorJerry Sandusky
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
(Capacity: 83,370)
Seasons
← 1985
1987 →
1986 Division I-A independents football records
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
No. 1 Penn State           12 0 0
No. 2 Miami (FL)           11 1 0
No. 20 Virginia Tech           9 2 1
No. 19 Boston College           9 3 0
Tulsa           7 4 0
Florida State           7 4 1
Army           6 5 0
Southwestern Louisiana           6 5 0
Southern Miss           6 5 0
Temple           6 5 0
Pittsburgh           5 5 1
Rutgers           5 5 1
Cincinnati           5 6 0
Notre Dame           5 6 0
Syracuse           5 6 0
South Carolina           3 6 2
Tulane           4 7 0
West Virginia           4 7 0
Louisville           3 8 0
Navy           3 8 0
Wichita State           3 8 0
East Carolina           2 9 0
Northern Illinois           2 9 0
Memphis           1 10 0
Rankings from AP Poll

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[]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 67:00 p.m.TempleNo. 6TCSW 45–1585,732
September 207:00 p.m.at Boston CollegeNo. 5
ESPNW 26–1442,329
September 271:30 p.m.East CarolinaNo. 7TCSW 42–1784,774
October 412:20 p.m.RutgersNo. 5TCSW 31–684,000
October 1112:20 p.m.CincinnatiNo. 5TCSW 23–1784,812
October 181:30 p.m.SyracusedaggerNo. 6TCSW 42–385,512
October 253:30 p.m.at No. 2 AlabamaNo. 6ABCW 23–360,210
November 17:30 p.m.at West VirginiaNo. 2ESPNW 19–059,184
November 81:00 p.m.MarylandNo. 2TCSW 17–1585,561
November 153:30 p.m.at Notre DameNo. 3ABCW 24–1959,075
November 2212:20 p.m.PittsburghNo. 2TCSW 34–1485,722
January 2, 19878:00 p.m.vs. No. 1 Miami (FL)No. 2NBCW 14–1073,098

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[]

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
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Second Quarter
  • PSU –
  • TU –
  • TU –
Third Quarter
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Fourth Quarter
  • TU –
  • PSU –
  • TU –
Top passers
  • TU –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • TU –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • TU –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • TU –
  • PSU –

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
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Second Quarter
  • PSU –
Third Quarter
  • BC –
  • PSU –
Fourth Quarter
  • PSU –
  • BC –
Top passers
  • PSU –
  • BC –
Top rushers
  • PSU –
  • BC –
Top receivers
  • PSU –
  • BC –
Top defenders
  • PSU –
  • BC –

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
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Second Quarter
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Third Quarter
  • ECU –
Fourth Quarter
  • PSU –
  • ECU –
  • ECU –
Top passers
  • ECU –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • ECU –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • ECU –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • ECU –
  • PSU –

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
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Second Quarter
  • PSU –
Third Quarter
  • PSU –
Fourth Quarter
  • RUT –
  • PSU –
Top passers
  • RUT –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • RUT –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • RUT –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • RUT –
  • PSU –

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
  • UC –
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Third Quarter
  • UC –
Fourth Quarter
  • UC –
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Top passers
  • UC –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • UC –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • UC –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • UC –
  • PSU –

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
  • PSU –
Second Quarter
  • PSU –
Third Quarter
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Fourth Quarter
  • SU –
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Top passers
  • SU –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • SU –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • SU –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • SU –
  • PSU –

#2 Alabama[]

Overall record Last meeting Result
3–5 1985 PSU, 19–17
Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Penn State 0 14 3 6

23

#2 Alabama 3 0 0 0

3

at Bryant–Denny Stadium

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
  • PSU –
  • ALA –
Top rushers
  • PSU –
  • ALA –
Top receivers
  • PSU –
  • ALA –
Top defenders
  • PSU –
  • ALA –

West Virginia[]

Overall record Last meeting Result
42–8–2 1985 PSU, 27–0
Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
#2 Penn State 7 6 6 0

19

West Virginia 0 0 0 0

0

at Mountaineer Field

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
  • PSU –
  • WVU –
Top rushers
  • PSU –
  • WVU –
Top receivers
  • PSU –
  • WVU –
Top defenders
  • PSU –
  • WVU –

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
  • MD –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • MD –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • MD –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • MD –
  • PSU –

Notre Dame[]

Overall record Last meeting Result
4–5–1 1985 PSU, 36–6
Penn State vs. Notre Dame – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
#3 Penn State 7 3 7 7

24

Notre Dame 0 6 7 6

19

at Notre Dame Stadium

Game information
First Quarter
  • PSU –
Second Quarter
  • ND –
  • ND –
  • PSU –
Third Quarter
  • ND –
  • PSU –
Fourth Quarter
  • PSU –
  • ND –
Top passers
  • PSU –
  • ND –
Top rushers
  • PSU –
  • ND –
Top receivers
  • PSU –
  • ND –
Top defenders
  • PSU –
  • ND –

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
  • PSU –
  • PITT –
  • PSU –
Second Quarter
  • PSU –
Third Quarter
  • PSU –
  • PSU –
Fourth Quarter
  • PSU –
  • PITT –
Top passers
  • PITT –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • PITT –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • PITT –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • PITT –
  • PSU –

#1 Miami (FL) (Sunkist Fiesta Bowl)[]

Overall record Last meeting Result
5–3 1981 MIA, 17–14
Miami (FL) vs. Penn State – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
#1 Miami (FL) 0 7 0 3

10

#2 Penn State 0 7 0 7

14

at Sun Devil Stadium

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
  • MIA –
  • PSU –
Top rushers
  • MIA –
  • PSU –
Top receivers
  • MIA –
  • PSU –
Top defenders
  • MIA –
  • PSU –

Roster[]

1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 9 Alexander, MikeMike Alexander Jr
T 74 Clayton, StanStan Clayton Jr
G 57 Conlin, ChrisChris Conlin Sr
RB 42 Dozier, D. J.D. J. Dozier Jr
C 78 Duffy, RogerRoger Duffy Fr
G 54 Frerotte, MitchMitch Frerotte Sr
FB 27 Hornyak, JohnJohn Hornyak Sr
FB 44 Manoa, TimTim Manoa Sr
G 59 Morgan, DanDan Morgan Sr
TE 89 Mrosko, BobBob Mrosko So
C 56 Radecic, KeithKeith Radecic Sr
WR 6 Roundtree, RayRay Roundtree Jr
QB 14 Shaffer, JohnJohn Shaffer Sr
RB 35 Smith, SteveSteve Smith Sr
G 79 Szott, DaveDave Szott Fr
RB 32 Thomas, BlairBlair Thomas So
WR 5 Timpson, MichaelMichael Timpson So
G 66 Wisniewski, SteveSteve Wisniewski So
C 72 Wolf, MikeMike Wolf Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 35 Bauer, TreyTrey Bauer Jr
CB 16 Cobbs, DuffyDuffy Cobbs Sr
CB/S 43 Collins, AndreAndre Collins Fr
LB 31 Conlan, ShaneShane Conlan Sr
LB 90 Giftopoulos, PetePete Giftopoulos Jr
LB 53 Graham, DonDon Graham Sr
S 2 Helgeson, StuStu Helgeson Jr
H 3 Henderson, MarquesMarques Henderson Jr
S 22 Isom, RayRay Isom Sr
LB 55 Johnson, TimTim Johnson Sr
LB 52 Johns, GreggGregg Johns Jr
LB 84 Karpinski, KeithKeith Karpinski Jr
DB 21 Lewis, SidSid Lewis Sr
LB 92 McDonald, QuintusQuintus McDonald So
LB 33 Sweenely, JohnJohn Sweenely So
CB 19 Wilkerson, GaryGary Wilkerson So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 11 Bruno, JohnJohn Bruno Sr
PK 10 Manca, MassimoMassimo Manca Sr
K 2 Tarasi, RayRay Tarasi Fr
SN 68 Truitt, GregGreg Truitt Jr

1986 National Champions (12-0)

[3] [4] [5] [6] }}

Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

NFL Draft[]

Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL Draft.

Round Pick Overall Name Position Team
1st 8 8 Shane Conlan Linebacker Buffalo Bills
1st 14 14 D.J. Dozier Running back Minnesota Vikings
3rd 24 80 Tim Manoa Running back Cleveland Browns
3rd 25 81 Steve Smith Running back Los Angeles Raiders
4th 1 84 Don Graham Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5th 14 126 John Bruno Punter St. Louis Cardinals
5th 20 132 Chris Conlin Offensive guard Miami Dolphins
6th 1 141 Tim Johnson Defensive end Pittsburgh Steelers
6th 22 162 Bob White San Francisco 49ers
8th 27 222 Dan Morgan Offensive guard Denver Broncos
9th 24 247 Bob Ontko Linebacker Indianapolis Colts
10th 17 268 Sid Lewis Defensive back New York Jets
11th 7 286 Brian Siverling Detroit Lions

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[]

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