Beaver Stadium, where the Nittany Lions have played since 1960.
This is a list of seasons completed by the Penn State Nittany Lions football team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Since the team's creation in 1881, the Nittany Lions have participated in more than 1,100 officially-sanctioned games, including 43 bowl games.
For most of its existence, Penn State competed as an independent. In 1993, Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference, where it has been a member ever since.
On July 23, 2012, NCAA President Mark Emmert ordered all victories from 1998-2011 vacated as part of multiple penalties levied against the university in response to the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.[1]
Seasons[]
| National Champions | Conference Champions | Bowl game berth |
| Year | Coach(es) | Conference | Record[2][3] | Bowl | AP Postseason | |||||
| Wins | Losses | Ties | ||||||||
| Penn State Nittany Lions | ||||||||||
| 1881 | No Coach | Ind | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1887 | Ind | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1888 | Ind | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | |||||
| 1889 | Ind | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1890 | Ind | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1891 | PIFA | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1892 | George Hoskins | Ind | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1893 | Ind | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1894 | Ind | 6 | 0 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1895 | Ind | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | |||||
| 1896 | Samuel B. Newton | Ind | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1897 | Ind | 3 | 6 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1898 | Ind | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1899 | Sam B. Boyle | Ind | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | ||||
| 1900 | William N. "Pop" Golden | Ind | 4 | 6 | 1 | — | ||||
| 1901 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1902 | Ind | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1903 | Daniel A. "Dan" Reed | Ind | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1904 | Thomas F. "Tom" Fennell | Ind | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1905 | Ind | 8 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1906 | Ind | 8 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1907 | Ind | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1908 | Ind | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1909 | William M. "Bill" Hollenback | Ind | 5 | 0 | 2 | — | ||||
| 1910 | Jack Hollenback | Ind | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | ||||
| 1911 | William M. Hollenback | Ind | 8 | 0 | 1 | — | ||||
| 1912 | Ind | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1913 | Ind | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1914 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1915 | Richard C. "Dick" Harlow | Ind | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1916 | Ind | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1917 | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1918 | Hugo F. Bezdek | Ind | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | ||||
| 1919 | Ind | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1920 | Ind | 7 | 0 | 2 | — | |||||
| 1921 | Ind | 8 | 0 | 2 | — | |||||
| 1922 | Ind | 6 | 4 | 1 | Lost 1923 Rose Bowl vs. USC, 3-14 | — | ||||
| 1923 | Ind | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1924 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1925 | Ind | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1926 | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1927 | Ind | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1928 | Ind | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1929 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1930 | Robert A. "Bob" Higgins | Ind | 3 | 4 | 2 | — | ||||
| 1931 | Ind | 2 | 8 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1932 | Ind | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1933 | Ind | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1934 | Ind | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1935 | Ind | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1936 | Ind | 3 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1937 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1938 | Ind | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1939 | Ind | 5 | 1 | 2 | — | |||||
| 1940 | Ind | 6 | 1 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1941 | Ind | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1942 | Ind | 6 | 1 | 1 | 19 | |||||
| 1943 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1944 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1945 | Ind | 5 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1946 | Ind | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1947 | Ind | 9 | 0 | 1 | Tied 1948 Cotton Bowl Classic vs. SMU, 13-13 | 4 | ||||
| 1948 | Ind | 7 | 1 | 1 | 18 | |||||
| 1949 | F. Joseph "Joe" Bedenk | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1950 | Charles A. "Rip" Engle | Ind | 5 | 3 | 1 | — | ||||
| 1951 | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1952 | Ind | 7 | 2 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1953 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1954 | Ind | 7 | 2 | 0 | 20 | |||||
| 1955 | Ind | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1956 | Ind | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1957 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1958 | Ind | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | |||||
| 1959 | Ind | 9 | 2 | 0 | Won 1959 Liberty Bowl vs. Alabama, 7–0 | 12 | ||||
| 1960 | Ind | 7 | 3 | 0 | Won 1960 Liberty Bowl vs. Oregon, 41-12 | 16 | ||||
| 1961 | Ind | 8 | 3 | 0 | Won 1961 Gator Bowl vs. Georgia Tech, 30–15 | 17 | ||||
| 1962 | Ind | 9 | 2 | 0 | Lost 1962 Gator Bowl vs. Florida 7–17 | 9 | ||||
| 1963 | Ind | 7 | 3 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1964 | Ind | 6 | 4 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1965 | Ind | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1966 | Joe Paterno | Ind | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | ||||
| 1967 | Ind | 8 | 2 | 1 | Tied 1967 Gator Bowl vs. Florida State, 17–17 | 10 | ||||
| 1968 | Ind | 11 | 0 | 0 | Won 1969 Orange Bowl vs. Kansas, 15–14 | 2 | ||||
| 1969 | Ind | 11 | 0 | 0 | Won 1970 Orange Bowl vs. Missouri 10–3 | 2 | ||||
| 1970 | Ind | 7 | 3 | 0 | 18 | |||||
| 1971 | Ind | 11 | 1 | 0 | Won 1972 Cotton Bowl Classic vs. Texas, 30–6 | 5 | ||||
| 1972 | Ind | 10 | 2 | 0 | Lost 1972 Sugar Bowl vs. Oklahoma, 0-14 | 10 | ||||
| 1973 | Ind | 12 | 0 | 0 | Won 1974 Orange Bowl vs. LSU, 16–9 | 5 | ||||
| 1974 | Ind | 10 | 2 | 0 | Won 1975 Cotton Bowl Classic vs. Baylor, 41–20 | 7 | ||||
| 1975 | Ind | 9 | 3 | 0 | Lost 1975 Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama, 6–13 | 10 | ||||
| 1976 | Ind | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost Gator Bowl vs. Notre Dame, 9–20 | — | ||||
| 1977 | Ind | 11 | 1 | 0 | Won 1977 Fiesta Bowl vs. Arizona State, 42–30 | 5 | ||||
| 1978 | Ind | 11 | 1 | 0 | Lost 1979 Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama, 7–14 | 4 | ||||
| 1979 | Ind | 8 | 4 | 0 | Won 1979 Liberty Bowl vs. Tulane, 9–6 | 20 | ||||
| 1980 | Ind | 10 | 2 | 0 | Won 1980 Fiesta Bowl vs. Ohio State, 31–19 | 8 | ||||
| 1981 | Ind | 10 | 2 | 0 | Won 1981 Fiesta Bowl vs. USC, 26–10 | 3 | ||||
| 1982 | Ind | 11 | 1 | 0 | Won 1983 Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia, 27–23 | 1 | ||||
| 1983 | Ind | 8 | 4 | 1 | Won 1983 Aloha Bowl vs. Washington, 13–10 | — | ||||
| 1984 | Ind | 6 | 5 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1985 | Ind | 11 | 1 | 0 | Lost 1986 Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma 10–25 | 3 | ||||
| 1986 | Ind | 12 | 0 | 0 | Won 1987 Fiesta Bowl vs. Miami (FL), 14–10 | 1 | ||||
| 1987 | Ind | 8 | 4 | 0 | Lost 1988 Citrus Bowl vs. Clemson, 10–35 | — | ||||
| 1988 | Ind | 5 | 6 | 0 | — | |||||
| 1989 | Ind | 8 | 3 | 1 | Won 1989 Holiday Bowl vs. BYU, 50–39 | 15 | ||||
| 1990 | Ind | 9 | 3 | 0 | Lost 1990 Champs Sports Bowl vs. Florida State, 17–24 | 11 | ||||
| 1991 | Ind | 11 | 2 | 0 | Won 1992 Fiesta Bowl vs. Tennessee, 42–17 | 3 | ||||
| 1992 | Ind | 7 | 5 | 0 | Lost 1993 Champs Sports Bowl vs. Stanford, 3–24 | — | ||||
| 1993 | Big Ten | 10 | 2 | 0 | Won 1994 Citrus Bowl vs. Tennessee, 31–13 | 8 | ||||
| 1994 | Big Ten | 12 | 0 | 0 | Won 1995 Rose Bowl vs. Oregon, 38–20 | 2 | ||||
| 1995 | Big Ten | 9 | 3 | 0 | Won 1996 Outback Bowl vs. Auburn, 43–14 | 13 | ||||
| 1996 | Big Ten | 11 | 2 | -[A 1] | Won 1997 Fiesta Bowl vs. Texas, 38–15 | 7 | ||||
| 1997 | Big Ten | 9 | 3 | - | Lost 1998 Citrus Bowl vs. Florida, 6–21 | 16 | ||||
| All wins from 1998-2011 vacated by NCAA on July 23, 2012 as penalty for the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. Vacated wins are in parenthesis.[1] | ||||||||||
| 1998 | Joe Paterno | Big Ten | 0 (9) | 3 | - | Won 1999 Outback Bowl vs. Kentucky, 26–14 (Vacated) | 17 | |||
| 1999 | Big Ten | 0 (10) | 3 | - | Won 1999 Alamo Bowl vs. Texas A&M, 24–0 (Vacated) | 11 | ||||
| 2000 | Big Ten | 0 (5) | 7 | - | — | |||||
| 2001 | Big Ten | 0 (5) | 6 | - | — | |||||
| 2002 | Big Ten | 0 (9) | 4 | - | Lost 2003 Capital One Bowl vs. Auburn, 9–13 | 16 | ||||
| 2003 | Big Ten | 0 (3) | 9 | - | — | |||||
| 2004 | Big Ten | 0 (4) | 7 | - | — | |||||
| 2005 | Big Ten | 0 (11) | 1 | - | Won 2006 Orange Bowl vs. Florida State, 26–23 (Vacated) | 3 | ||||
| 2006 | Big Ten | 0 (9) | 4 | - | Won 2007 Outback Bowl vs. Tennessee, 20–10 (Vacated) | 24 | ||||
| 2007 | Big Ten | 0 (9) | 4 | - | Won 2007 Alamo Bowl vs. Texas A&M, 24–17 (Vacated) | — | ||||
| 2008 | Big Ten | 0 (11) | 2 | - | Lost 2009 Rose Bowl vs. USC, 24–38 | 8 | ||||
| 2009 | Big Ten | 0 (11) | 2 | - | Won 2010 Capital One Bowl vs. LSU, 19-17 (Vacated) | 9 | ||||
| 2010 | Big Ten | 0 (7) | 6 | - | Lost 2011 Outback Bowl vs. Florida, 24-37 | — | ||||
| 2011 | Joe Paterno Tom Bradley (interim)[A 2] |
Big Ten (Leaders Division) |
0 (9) | 4 | - | Lost 2012 TicketCity Bowl vs. Houston, 14-30 | — | |||
| 2012 | Bill O' Brien | Big Ten | 8 | 4 | - | Ineligible | — | |||
| Total | 750 | 362 | 43 | (all games) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coaching record[]
List of coaches and their record (win-loss-ties):
- Uncoached era: 12–8–2
- George Hoskins: 17–4–4
- Samuel Newton: 12–14–0
- Sam Boyle: 4–6–1
- Pop Golden: 16–12–1
- Dan Reed: 5–3–0
- Tom Fennell: 33–17–1
- Jack Hollenback: 5–2–1
- Bill Hollenback: 28–9–4
- Dick Harlow: 20–8–0
- Hugo Bezdek: 65–30–11
- Bob Higgins: 91–57–11
- Joe Bedenk: 5–4–0
- Rip Engle: 104–48–4
- Joe Paterno: 298–136–3 (111 wins vacated)
- Tom Bradley: 0-3-0 (1 win vacated)
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Penn State sanctions: $60M, bowl ban. ESPN. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ↑ Penn State Nittany Lions Index. Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ↑ Penn State Yearly Totals. College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ↑ Whiteside, Kelly (August 25, 2006). "Overtime system still excites coaches". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2006-08-24-overtime_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ↑ "Penn State fires Joe Paterno as head coach amid sex-abuse scandal". The Star-Ledger. November 9, 2011. http://www.nj.com/sports/mustsee/index.ssf/2011/11/penn_state_fires_joe_paterno_a.html.
- ↑ "Board of Trustees announces leadership changes at Penn State". Penn State Live. The Pennsylvania State University. November 9, 2011. http://live.psu.edu/story/56306.
- ↑ "Trustees: Penn State president removed, Paterno out immediately". CNN. November 10, 2011. http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/09/justice/pennsylvania-coach-abuse-charges/index.html?hpt=hp_t1.
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