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National Rankings
"The Paterno Years"
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2001: Record (5-6) Unranked
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- Sometimes you get the Bear...sometimes it's just a Run-of-the-Mills season. Chafed? Try a little Johnson and Johnson. |
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2000: Record (5-7) Unranked
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- No Sandusky. No blocking, no rushing...and the mighty Casey has struck out...no kidding. Couldn't Bear it. |
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1999: Record (10-3)
11th-AP, USA Today/ESPN
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- Minnesota thriller starts slide as Lions come up short of preseason hype...but Sandusky gets a "lift" at the Alamo. |
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1998: Record (9-3)
15th-USA Today/ESPN
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- Featuring only five senior starters, Lions finish strong...Paterno collects milestone 300th career victory. |
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1997: Record (9-3)
16th-AP
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- Penn State wins at least nine games for the 21st time and is ranked in the top 20 for the 25th time under Paterno. |
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1996: Record (11-2) 7th-AP, USA Today/CNN
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- Lions begin season with a "Classic" win over Southern Cal and close with a "Fiesta" at the expense of the Longhorns. |
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1995: Record (9-3) 13th-AP; 12th-USA/CNN, UPI |
- Wisconsin ends 20-game win streak. Lions rebound, win six of last seven. 10 players drafted in NFL (most in nation). |
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1994: Record (12-0) 2nd-AP, USA Today/CNN, UPI
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- Let's see now...Big Ten and Rose Bowl Champs, undefeated, lead nation in scoring and offense, 17-game winning streak... |
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1993: Record (10-2)
7th-USA Today/CNN, UPI
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- The Lions end 106 years as an Independent and begin life in the Big Ten, including a wild comeback against MSU. |
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1992: Record (7-5) 24th-USA Today/CNN, UPI
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- Can you say "struggled?" O.J. McDuffie provides most of the highlights as he breaks or ties 15 major school records. |
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1991: Record (11-2) 3rd-AP, USA Today/CNN, UPI
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- Tony Sacca and Darren Perry lead the offense and defense as the Lions win their 21st Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy. |
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1990: Record (9-3) 11th-AP; 10th-UPI
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- Penn State wins nine in a row and defeats Alabama and Notre Dame (ranked #1). Invited to innaugural Blockbuster Bowl. |
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1989: Record (8-3-1) 15th-AP; 14th-UPI
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- Blair Thomas and Andre Collins are finalists for the Heisman and Butkus Awards...Lions spend Holiday with Cougars. |
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1988: Record (5-6) Unranked
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- Penn State finishes under .500 for the first time since 1938...longest steak in NCAA. Wisniewski wins 2nd All- America. |
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1987: Record (8-4) Unranked
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- Steve Wisniewski wins All-American honors and coach Paterno records his 200th victory on opening day. |
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1986: Record (12-0) 1st-AP; 1st-UPI
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- Undisputed NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. Still had to do it by raining on the (then #1 ranked) Hurricanes' parade. |
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1985: Record (11-1) 3RD-AP, UPI
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- "Sooner" or later. Lions play for third National Championship in 8 years...but lose. Conlan and Zordich carry the load. |
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1984: Record (6-5) Unranked
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- Spare me...the Lions aren't going bowling for the first time since 1970. But we did send Flutie packin'. |
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1983: Record (8-4-1) 17th-UPI
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- Lions start 0-3, win 8 out of remaining 10 and tie Pitt on the last play of the game. Good for a trip to Hawaii. |
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1982: Record (11-1) 1st-AP; 1st-UPI
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- Undisputed NATIONAL CHAMPIONS. In spite of one regular season loss, it was the night the lights went out in Georgia, Sugar. |
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1981: Record (10-2) 3RD-AP, UPI
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- All-Americans Curt Warner and Sean Farrell lead a Lion squad through the toughest schedule in the nation. |
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1980: Record (10-2) 8th-AP, UPI
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- Six opponents go bowling as All-Americans Bill Dugan and Sean Farrell lead the way to the dessert...or is it the desert? |
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1979: Record (8-4) 20th-AP; 18th-UPI
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- Matt Suhey and Bruce Clark lead a young squad to PSU's 41st consecutive non-losing season...and Liberty for all. |
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1978: Record (11-1) 4th-AP, UPI
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- Oh so close...but the Sugar went Crimson. Otherwise, Matt Bahr got his kicks and 5 Lions cop All-American honors. |
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1977: Record (11-1) 5th-AP; 4th-UPI
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- Kentucky is our only loss, but we give the Devils their due on their own turf. Sidler and Dorney get All-American honors. |
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1976: Record (7-5) Unranked
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- What's worse than losing three straight for the first time under Paterno?...the luck of the Irish. Allerman goes All-American. |
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1975: Record (9-3) 10th-AP, UPI
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- If you like defense, you'll get a kick out of this: Chris Bahr, Greg Buttle and Tom Rafferty take All-American honors. |
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1974: Record (10-2) 7th-AP, UPI
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- Mike Hartenstine and John Nessel lead the Nittany Lions into Texas for a little Cotton pickin'. |
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1973: Record (12-0) 5th-AP, UPI
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- Let's see now...undefeated, win Orange Bowl, Cappelletti wins Heisman...ranked 5th? Good thing we didn't lose any. |
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1972: Record (10-2) 10th-AP; 8th-UPI
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- Don't Volunteer Sooner...bookend losses prevent undefeated season. Cappelletti, Hufnagel, Bannon and Skorupan shine. |
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1971: Record (11-1) 5th-AP; 11th UPI
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- Lydell Mitchell, Dave Joyner and Charlie Zapiec get a little revenge deep in the heart of Texas. |
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1970: Record (7-3) Unranked
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- 31 game unbeaten streak ends, but John Hufnagel and All-American Jack Ham lead Lions to a strong finish. |
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1969: Record (11-0) 2nd-AP, UPI
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- Onkotz, Reid, Smith and Pittman become All-Americans. Penn State wins everywhere except in the polls...again. |
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1968: Record (11-0) 2nd-AP; 3rd-UPI
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- The ONLY undefeated team in the country thanks to an Orange thriller. Ted Kwalick and Dennis Onkotz go All-American. |
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1967: Record (8-2-1) 10th-AP; 11th-UPI
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- Tom Sherman sets records, Ted Kwalick goes All-American...and the Lions get all "tied up" in Florida. |
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1966: Record (5-5) Unranked
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- Who knew? JoPa bats .500 coming out of the chute and his team was outscored for the season for the only time in his era. |
