NC State vs. Penn State

NC State and Penn State have 19 meetings on file, the first in 1920; Penn State leads the series 17–⁠2 in the games on file. Over the last 10 meetings it’s Penn State 8–⁠2, and Penn State has won the last 7. Share

NC State wins: 2
Penn State wins: 17
Ties: 0
Earliest on file: 1920
Longest streak: 10 Penn State
Current streak: 7 Penn State
Last 10 meetings: Penn State 8–⁠2
Most recent: 1982

The series at a glance

Every meeting by decade, colored by the winner
	’0	’1	’2	’3	’4	’5	’6	’7	’8	’9	W–L
1920s											0–⁠4
1950s											0–⁠1
1960s											0–⁠2
1970s											2–⁠7
1980s											0–⁠3

Average margin: 17.8 points; 9 decided by one score (8 or fewer)
At NC State: 1–⁠4 NC State’s record at home
At Penn State: 13–⁠1 Penn State’s record at home
Shutouts: 4

Every meeting on file, as played. Ranks are the AP poll’s going in.

Games that tell the story

NC State’s biggest win1974: NC State 12, Penn State 7by 5 points
Penn State’s biggest win1982: Penn State 54, NC State 0by 54 points
Upset1975: NC State 15, Penn State 14NC State had a 25% chance, by our ratings before kickoff

Coach against coach

Years	NC State	Series	Penn State
1972–⁠1975	Lou Holtz	2–⁠2	Joe Paterno
1976–⁠1979	Bo Rein	0–⁠4	Joe Paterno
1980–⁠1982	Monte Kiffin	0–⁠3	Joe Paterno

Head-coach pairings with three or more meetings on file, the series read from NC State’s side (Holtz 2–⁠2 against Paterno). A season split between coaches goes to the one credited with the game.

Both programs through the years

Our Elo rating at the end of each season, a measure of how strong a team was, not a forecast; 1500 is an average FBS team.

Every game

Nov 6, 1982	7Penn State 54, NC State 0	at Penn State
Nov 7, 1981	6Penn State 22, NC State 15	at NC State
Nov 8, 1980	10Penn State 21, NC State 13	at Penn State
Nov 10, 1979	Penn State 9, NC State 7	at NC State
Nov 11, 1978	2Penn State 19, NC State 10	at Penn State
Nov 5, 1977	9Penn State 21, NC State 17	at NC State
Nov 6, 1976	Penn State 41, NC State 20	at Penn State
Nov 8, 1975	NC State 15, 8Penn State 14	at Penn State
Nov 9, 1974	NC State 12, 7Penn State 7	at NC State
Nov 10, 1973	6Penn State 35, NC State 29	at Penn State
Nov 11, 1972	10Penn State 37, NC State 22	at Penn State
Nov 13, 1971	5Penn State 35, NC State 3	at Penn State
Nov 29, 1969	3Penn State 33, NC State 8	at NC State
Nov 11, 1967	Penn State 13, 3NC State 8	at Penn State
Nov 17, 1956	Penn State 14, NC State 7	at Penn State
Oct 4, 1924	Penn State 51, NC State 6	at Penn State
Oct 6, 1923	Penn State 16, NC State 0	at Penn State
Oct 8, 1921	Penn State 35, NC State 0	at Penn State
Oct 16, 1920	Penn State 41, NC State 0	at Penn State

Every game is listed as played on the field.

The series at a glance

Games that tell the story

Coach against coach

Both programs through the years

Every game

Their other rivalries