Penn State Nittany Lions
Big TenUniversity Park, PABeaver Stadium
2026: 3–4 (0–4 Big Ten). Last: lost at Michigan 21–18. Next: Purdue, Saturday, Oct 31.
- W 45–0Marshall
- W 27–9at Temple
- W 55–13Buffalo
- L 20–24Wisconsin
- L 13–34at Northwestern
- L 23–31No. 19 USC
- L 18–21at Michigan
- Oct 31Purdue
- Nov 7at Washington
- Nov 14Minnesota
- Nov 21Rutgers
- Nov 28at Maryland
- No. 7 in all-time wins
- Outfitted by Adidas
- Sudler Trophy, 2005
Penn State has played football since 1887 and is 933–420–38 in the 1,391 games on record here, which start in 1888. Penn State claims two national championships (1982, 1986). The Nittany Lions have finished No. 1 in the final AP poll twice, most recently in 1986. They have won four Big Ten Conference titles (the last in 2016) and one Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Football Conference title, counting shared titles. John Cappelletti won the Heisman Trophy here in 1973. Since 1943, the NFL Draft has taken 297 players from here in its first seven rounds, 45 of them in the first round. The AAFC and AFL drafts also took eight players from here. The College Football Hall of Fame holds 22 players and 5 coaches from Penn State. Joe Paterno (1966–2011) won more games here than any other coach: 409. The most-played rival is Pittsburgh: 100 meetings, Penn State leads 53–43–4. This season, under Matt Campbell, they’re 3–4.
Résumé
- All-time record
- 953–419–42 official; 933–420–38 on file; how we count
- Postseason
- 34–21 bowls, title games, playoff
- AP No. 1 finishes
- 2
- Weeks at No. 1
- 19 of 672 ranked
- Elo now
- 1576 46th of 138 FBS
- Computer rankings
- Massey No. 40 · Composite No. 48 in FBS, Oct 17. From Massey Ratings
- Conference titles
- 5 last in 2016
- Bowl record
- 34–21–2 official, bowls only
- Seasons
- 139 since 1888, 1,391 games
Identity
- Fight song
- Fight On, State
- Mascot
- Nittany Lion
- Student section
- Nittanyville
- Apparel
- Adidas deal through 2036
- Band
- Penn State Blue Band since 1899, 320+ members
2026 season 3–4
RosterFull 2026 season| Date | Opponent | Result | Elo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | vs Marshall | W 45–0 | 73% |
| Sep 12 | at Temple | W 27–9 | 69% |
| Sep 19 | vs Buffalo | W 55–13 | 84% |
| Sep 26 | vs Wisconsin | L 20–24 | 79% |
| Oct 2 | at Northwestern | L 13–34 | 56% |
| Oct 10 | vs 19USC | L 23–31 | 53% |
| Oct 17 | at Michigan | L 18–21 | 40% |
| Oct 31 | vs Purdue | Preview | 75% |
| Nov 7 | at Washington | Preview | 40% |
| Nov 14 | vs Minnesota | Preview | 64% |
| Nov 21 | vs Rutgers | Preview | 75% |
| Nov 28 | at Maryland | Preview | 68% |
Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.
This season, game by game
Future schedule
2027–28- 202712 games: 7 home, 5 away
- 202812 games: 7 home, 5 away
- Ball StateSept. 2
- at SyracuseSept. 9
- MassachusettsSept. 16
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Ohio State
- Oregon
- UCLA
- at Michigan State
- at Nebraska
- at Rutgers
- at USC
Penn State’s announced games beyond the seasons on our schedule, as its Wikipedia article lists them. Schedules change; a season shows only the games named so far, and many articles list non-conference games only. Future schedules: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
On the 2026 team
Rocco Becht1,664 passing yards, 12 TD (leads Penn State in passing yards)
Tony Rojas56 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 INT (leads Penn State in tackles)- Chase Sowell34 catches, 510 yards, 3 TD (leads Penn State in receiving yards)
- Koby Howard12 catches, 344 yards, 2 TD
- Kooper Ebel40 tackles, 1 sack
- Carson Hansen278 rushing yards, 4 TD (leads Penn State in rushing yards)
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.
Program greats See all
Heisman finalists, College Football Hall of Famers, consensus All-Americans, national award winners and first-round picks, for what they did at Penn State.
John Cappelletti1973 Heisman
Paul PoslusznyHall of Fame, 2024
Kerry CollinsHall of Fame, 2018
LaVar ArringtonHall of Fame, 2022- Mike ReidHall of Fame, 1987
- Richie LucasHall of Fame, 1986
- Ki-Jana CarterHall of Fame, 2026
Larry Johnson2002 Doak Walker- Ted KwalickHall of Fame, 1989
- Glenn ResslerHall of Fame, 2001
- Dennis OnkotzHall of Fame, 1995
- Shane ConlanHall of Fame, 2014
Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.
Around the program
- Apparel
- Adidas · Official source
- Penn State Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- CBS Sports; read 2026-10-10
- Mascot
- Nittany Lion · Official source
- Penn State Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- Penn State University; read 2026-10-10
- Student section
- Nittanyville · Sources disagree 1 source give Nittanyville; others give S-Zone (1 source). Chosen by count of sources, then the newest, for this season; needs a reviewer.
- Penn State University; read 2026-10-10
- Offensive coordinator
- Taylor Mouser · Official source
- YouTube; read 2026-10-10
- Defensive coordinator
- D’Anton Lynn · Official source
- Penn State Athletics; read 2026-10-10
- YouTube; read 2026-10-10
- Radio flagship
- WPHT-AM · Single source
- Audacy; read 2026-10-10
- NIL collective
- Happy Valley United · Single source
- Happy Valley United; read 2026-10-10
Found by several AI researchers searching the web, then kept only where the page loads and says so in words naming the program; every quote is checked again each time the data is rebuilt. Official source: the school’s own page. All of them.
The apparel deal
Adidas, July 2026 through June 2036. 10 years, reported about $300M. 10-year deal ends a Nike run that began in 1993.
- StateCollege.com: 10 years, beginning July 1, 2026
- Bleacher Report: 10 years, about $300M
Before: Nike, 1993 through June 2026; Russell Athletic, through 1993.
Apparel deals: Field Drip. Terms as the outlets reported them; checked Oct 3, 2026.
Program strength since 1888
Best seasons everOn Bluesky
I'm sure you've seen the clips of Jim Knowles dancing, the big win for Kalani Sitake & Bob Chesney continuing to roll at UCLA. Saturday was an agonizing day for Penn State. 10 things I'm still thinking about after Michigan
Read on BlueskyNo, Matt Campbell isn't changing QBs. He's not even considering it. Here's why Rocco Becht is his guy, their guy and the leader who teammates were gutted for Saturday night. 'It hurts to see him like that'
Read on BlueskyNew Audible: Why are fans rejecting a 24-team playoff? ❌ Episode breakdown: • Fan backlash to further CFP expansion • Coaches Survey: Ultimate must-win coach • Mailbag: One-and-done coaches & Penn State panic m.youtube.com/watch?v=WMJU...
Read on Bluesky
From reporters and writers who cover college football, linked to their posts on Bluesky.
More coverage
- 3 biggest overreactions from Michigan's valiant win over Penn State, gbmwolverine.com,
- Penn State notes: Chase Sowell can't enjoy his career-best performance, citizensvoice.com,
- Michigan capitalizes on Rocco Becht's 3 turnovers to defeat Penn State, standardspeaker.com,
- Penn State's Rocco Becht shoulders blame for 21-18 loss to Michigan [opinion], standardspeaker.com,
- Tommy Carr replaces benched Bryce Underwood, leads Michigan to 21-18 win over Penn State, wilx.com,
- Tommy Carr comes off bench to rally Michigan past Penn State, thescore1260.com,
- Bryce Underwood Benched by Michigan, Replaced by Lloyd Carr's Grandson Tommy vs. Penn State, bleacherreport.com,
- Tommy Carr willed Michigan to a 21-18 win over Penn State for first Big Ten win, gbmwolverine.com,
Found through the GDELT Project, which indexes news sites worldwide. Each link opens the story on the outlet’s own site; each picture is that outlet’s own preview of its story, shown from its site and credited to it.
Podcasts
- It's Just Getting WORSE For Penn State & Matt Campbell..., Locked On Nittany Lions, , 37 min
- Is Penn State Asking Too Much of Rocco Becht? We Debate, BWI Live, , 34 min
- Matt Campbell Just Said Something Penn State Fans WON'T Like..., Locked On Nittany Lions, , 23 min
- Penn State loses to Michigan 21-18: Live postgame reaction, The Nittany Dispatch, , 47 min
- Postgame reaction after Penn State loss at Michigan, Lions247, , 1 hr 13 min
Found through Podcast Index, the open podcast directory. Each link opens the episode’s page.
Head coaches
| Coach | Years | Record |
|---|---|---|
 Matt Campbell | 2026 | 3–4 |
| Terry Smith | 2025 | 4–3 |
 James Franklin | 2014–2025 | 104–45 |
 Bill O’Brien | 2012–2013 | 15–9 |
| Tom Bradley | 2011 | 1–3 |
 Joe Paterno | 1966–2011 | 409–136–3 |
| Rip Engle | 1950–1965 | 104–48–4 |
| Joe Bedenk | 1949 | 5–4 |
 Bob Higgins | 1930–1948 | 91–57–11 |
 Hugo Bezdek | 1918–1929 | 65–30–11 |
 Dick Harlow | 1915–1917 | 20–8 |
 Bill Hollenback | 1909–1914 | 28–9–4 |
| Jack Hollenback | 1910 | 5–2–1 |
 Tom Fennell | 1904–1908 | 33–17–1 |
 Daniel Reed | 1903 | 5–3 |
 Pop Golden | 1900–1902 | 16–12–1 |
 Sam Boyle | 1899 | 4–6–1 |
 Samuel Newton | 1896–1898 | 12–14 |
| George W. Hoskins | 1892–1895 | 2–3–1 |
Most-played series
All rivalries- Pittsburgh
53–43–4 ‡ in 100
- 1991 W 32–20
- 1992 W 57–13
- 1997 W 34–17
- 1998 W 20–13
- 1999 W 20–17
- 2000 L 0–12
- 2016 L 39–42
- 2017 W 33–14
- 2018 W 51–6
- 2019 W 17–10
Won the last three.
- Syracuse
43–23–5 in 71
- 1984 W 21–3
- 1985 W 24–20
- 1986 W 42–3
- 1987 L 21–48
- 1988 L 10–24
- 1989 W 34–12
- 1990 W 27–21
- 2008 W 55–13
- 2009 W 28–7
- 2013 W 23–17
Won the last five.
- West Virginia
50–9–2 in 61
- 1985 W 27–0
- 1986 W 19–0
- 1987 W 25–21
- 1988 L 30–51
- 1989 W 19–9
- 1990 W 31–19
- 1991 W 51–6
- 1992 W 40–26
- 2023 W 38–15
- 2024 W 34–12
Won the last six.
| Opponent | Games | PSU record |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 100 | 53–43–4 ‡ |
| Syracuse | 71 | 43–23–5 |
| West Virginia | 61 | 50–9–2 |
| Maryland | 48 | 44–3–1 |
| Pennsylvania | 47 | 18–25–4 |
| Temple | 46 | 41–4–1 |
| Ohio State | 41 | 14–26 † |
| Michigan State | 39 | 20–18–1 |
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file. Each series page gives both.
Rivals the program names: Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Maryland, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Alabama.
Trophies it holds: Land Grant Trophy (Michigan State, since 2022), Governor’s Victory Bell (Minnesota). Who holds each comes from the games on file; the trophies from Wikipedia.
Every opponent (162)
Every program Penn State has played, A to Z, with Penn State’s record against it. Each links to the series, game by game.
- Air Force 3–0
- Akron 6–0
- Alabama 5–10
- Allegheny 3–0
- Altoona A.C. 1–0
- App State 1–0
- Arizona 1–0
- Arizona State 1–0
- Arkansas 0–1
- Army 14–10–2
- Army Ambulance Corps 1–0
- Auburn 3–1
- Ball State 1–0
- Baylor 1–0
- Bellefonte Academy 1–1
- Bloomsburg 1–0
- Boise State 1–0
- Boston College 20–4
- Boston University 8–0
- Bowling Green 3–0
- Brown 1–0
- Bucknell 22–10
- Buffalo 4–1
- BYU 2–1
- California 3–1
- California (PA) 1–0
- Carlisle 1–4–1
- Carnegie Mellon 6–0
- Central Michigan 2–0
- Cincinnati 8–1
- Clemson 1–1
- Coastal Carolina 1–0
- Colgate 9–4–1
- Colorado 1–1
- Columbia 0–2
- Cornell 4–7–2
- Dartmouth 1–2
- Delaware 1–0
- Dickinson 9–4
- Dickinson Seminary 2–0
- Duquesne A.C. 0–3
- East Carolina 2–0
- Eastern Illinois 1–0
- Eastern Michigan 3–0
- Florida 0–3
- Florida International 2–0
- Florida State 1–1–1
- Fordham 3–0
- Franklin & Marshall 2–1
- Furman 1–0
- Geneva 7–0
- George Washington 3–0
- Georgetown 1–0
- Georgia 1–1
- Georgia State 1–0
- Georgia Tech 4–3
- Gettysburg 25–0–1
- Grove City 3–0
- Harrisburg A.C. 1–0
- Harvard 0–3–2
- Haverford 1–0
- Holy Cross 9–0
- Homestead A.C. 0–1
- Houston 2–1
- Idaho 1–0
- Illinois 22–6
- Indiana 25–3
- Indiana State 1–0
- Iowa 18–15
- Jersey Shore 1–0
- Johns Hopkins 1–0
- Kansas 1–0
- Kansas State 2–0
- Kent State 7–0
- Kentucky 3–3
- Lafayette 10–5–1
- Lebanon Valley 20–0
- Lehigh 16–6–1
- Louisiana Tech 2–0
- Louisville 2–0
- LSU 2–0
- Mansfield 1–0
- Marietta 3–0
- Marquette 2–0
- Marshall 3–0
- Maryland 44–3–1
- Massachusetts 2–0
- McDaniel 1–0
- Memphis 1–0
- Miami 7–6
- Michigan 10–18
- Michigan State 20–18–1
- Middlebury 1–0
- Minnesota 11–6
- Missouri 3–1
- Muhlenberg 5–1
- Navy 19–17–1
- NC State 17–2
- Nebraska 9–10
- Nevada 1–0
- New York University 2–1–1
- Niagara 2–0
- North Carolina 0–1
- Northern Illinois 1–0
- Northwestern 16–7
- Notre Dame 9–10–1
- Ohio 6–1
- Ohio State 14–26 †
- Oklahoma 0–2
- Ole Miss 0–1
- Oregon 3–3
- Oregon State 1–0
- Pennsylvania 18–25–4
- Pittsburgh 53–43–4 ‡
- Princeton 0–5
- Purdue 17–3–1
- Rice 2–0
- Rutgers 33–2
- San Diego State 1–0
- Sewanee 1–0
- SMU 2–0–1
- South Carolina 2–0
- South Florida 1–0
- Southern Miss 2–0
- St. Bonaventure 4–0
- Stanford 4–1
- Steelton YMCA 0–1
- Sterling A.C. 1–0
- Susquehanna 6–0
- Swarthmore 2–0
- Syracuse 43–23–5
- TCU 3–1
- Temple 41–4–1
- Tennessee 3–2
- Texas 3–2
- Texas A&M 3–1
- Texas Tech 1–0
- Toledo 0–1
- Tulane 1–0
- UCF 3–1
- UCLA 3–5
- Ursinus 2–0
- USC 5–7
- Utah 1–0
- Utah State 1–0
- Vanderbilt 0–1
- Villanova 7–3–1
- Virginia 4–3
- VMI 1–0
- Wake Forest 1–0
- Washington 4–0
- Washington & Jefferson 4–2–1
- Washington State 2–0
- Waynesburg 0–2
- West Virginia 50–9–2
- West Virginia Wesleyan 3–0
- Westminster (Pennsylvania) 3–0
- William & Mary 4–0
- Wisconsin 12–10
- Wissahickon Barracks 0–0–1
- Yale 0–7
- Youngstown State 2–0
Official records. † Without wins the NCAA vacated, or with forfeits counted. ‡ The rivalry’s own count, where it differs from the games on file.
Conference titles
5, counting shared titles- Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Football Conference 1
- 1891
- Big Ten East 1
- 2016 (tied)
- Big Ten Leaders 1
- 2011 (tied)
As the program counts them in its Wikipedia article, shared titles included, and listed under each conference’s current name (a Western Conference title of the 1900s counts as a Big Ten title); season pages use the name the conference had that year. A title the article files under a conference the team wasn’t in that season is listed under the one it was. Division titles include years the team tied for its division.
Conferences
- Independent 1887–1890
- Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Football Conference 1891
- Independent 1892–1992
- Big Ten since 1993
- 1993Joined the Big Ten from independence. Source
Penn State’s football conferences by season, from CollegeFootballData.com’s memberships (renamed conferences keep the name of the time). The moves and their announcement dates from Wikipedia’s lists of NCAA Division I conference changes; the year is the first season in the new conference. Conference realignment: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
National award winners
All awardsConsensus All-Americans 46
Led the nation 8
| 2002 | Larry Johnson rushing yards (2,087 yds), yards per carry (7.7) |
| 1994 | Kerry Collins passer rating (172.9) |
| 1994 | Ki-Jana Carter yards per carry (7.8) |
| 1973 | Gary Hayman punt return average (19.2) |
| 1972 | John Hufnagel passer rating (148.0) |
| 1971 | Lydell Mitchell points (174 pts) |
| 1964 | Don Kunit yards per carry (6.4) |
| 1941 | Lenny Krouse yards per catch (16.8) |
The NCAA’s official national leaders since 1937, from Wikipedia’s yearly leader lists.
Heisman runners-up and finalists
The votes| 2017 | Saquon Barkley RB | 4th |
| 2005 | Michael Robinson QB | 5th |
| 2002 | Larry Johnson RB | 3rd |
| 1997 | Curtis Enis RB | 5th |
| 1994 | Ki-Jana Carter RB | 2nd |
| 1994 | Kerry Collins QB | 4th |
| 1978 | Chuck Fusina QB | 2nd |
| 1971 | Lydell Mitchell RB | 5th |
| 1969 | Mike Reid DT | 5th |
| 1968 | Ted Kwalick TE | 4th |
| 1959 | Richie Lucas QB | 2nd |
Second to fifth in the vote, from each season’s Wikipedia article.
In the Hall of Fame
Every inductee- Players
- 22
- Coaches
- 5
| 2026 | Ki-Jana Carter RB |
| 2024 | Paul Posluszny LB |
| 2022 | LaVar Arrington LB |
| 2018 | Kerry Collins QB |
| 2014 | Shane Conlan LB |
| 2009 | Curt Warner RB |
| 2007 | Joe Paterno coach here, 1966–2011 |
| 2005 | Keith Dorney OT |
| 2004 | Lydell Mitchell RB |
| 2001 | Glenn Ressler OG |
| 1997 | Dave Robinson E |
| 1995 | Dennis Onkotz LB |
| 1993 | John Cappelletti RB |
| 1990 | Jack Ham LB |
| 1989 | Ted Kwalick TE |
| 1987 | Mike Reid DT |
| 1986 | Richie Lucas QB |
| 1985 | Steve Suhey OG |
| 1976 | Dexter Very E |
| 1974 | Shorty Miller QB |
| 1973 | Harry Wilson RB |
| 1973 | Rip Engle coach here, 1950–1965 |
| 1971 | Glenn Killinger QB |
| 1957 | Pete Mauthe FB |
| 1954 | Bob Higgins coach here, 1930–1948 |
| 1954 | Dick Harlow coach here, 1915–1917 |
| 1954 | Hugo Bezdek coach here, 1918–1929 |
In the draft
By college- NFL picks, rounds 1–7
- 297 since 1943
- First-round picks
- 45
- AAFC and AFL picks
- 8 1948–49, 1961–64
| 2026 | Olaivavega Ioane OG | No. 14, Baltimore Ravens |
| 2025 | Abdul Carter DE | No. 3, New York Giants |
| 2025 | Tyler Warren TE | No. 14, Indianapolis Colts |
| 2024 | Olu Fashanu OT | No. 11, New York Jets |
| 2024 | Chop Robinson DE | No. 21, Miami Dolphins |
| 2022 | Jahan Dotson WR | No. 16, Washington Commanders |
| 2021 | Micah Parsons ILB | No. 12, Dallas Cowboys |
| 2021 | Odafe Oweh OLB | No. 31, Baltimore Ravens |
Who came and went in the 2026 transfer portal, and every portal year.
The school
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus- Enrollment
- 50,737 42,604 undergraduates, fall 2024
- Where
- University Park, Pennsylvania
- Public or private
- Public Research 1
- Founded
- 1855
- Graduates’ median earnings
- $63,435 10 years after starting
Enrollment, place and Carnegie research tier from the National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS, public domain). Earnings from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard (CC BY 4.0): the median for students who received federal aid and were working, not in school. Founding year from Wikidata. Every school’s in the data.
Official accounts
- Football
- X @PennStateFballInstagram @pennstateFballFacebook PSUFball
- Athletics department
- YouTube user/GoPSUTV
Official accounts: the schools’ athletics websites: the ones gopsusports.com lists for its football program and athletics department, as of Oct 12, 2026.
Old photographs
Football team practicing on Old Beaver FieldPhoto: Pennsylvania State University, No Copyright – United States, via Digital Public Library of America
From libraries and archives found through the Digital Public Library of America, each under the rights statement its holder gives and credited to it. The records don’t give these a season; those they date are on their seasons’ pages.
On the newsreel
- ARMY 9 PENN STATE 6
- ARMY LOSES TO PENN STATE
- PENN STATE WINS LIBERTY BOWL — 7-0
- FOOTBALL — SYRACUSE BEATS PENN STATE, 20-18
- ARMY ROUTS PENN STATE
- PENN STATE TOPS WASH. STATE
- PENN STATE TOPPLES PENN
- 13-13 TIE IN COTTON BOWL
- PENN STATE ROUTS SYRACUSE
- BONFIRE MARKS GRID VICTORY
Universal Newsreel, National Archives (catalog record). Story titles and words as Universal’s release sheet gives them; the films themselves may still be under copyright, so we link to the record rather than show them.
Films and books
On film
In books
- Pride of the Lions
- 100 things Penn State fans should know & do before they die
- We Are Penn State
- Penn State football
- The Lion in Autumn
- Tales from Penn State Football
- The Penn State Football Encyclopedia
- Playing for Paterno
And 26 more
- Penn State Bowl Games
- Game of my life Penn State
- Game changers
- Game changers
- Game changers: the greatest plays in Penn State football history
- Penn State football
- Penn State football: the complete illustrated history
- Game Day: Penn State Football
- Playing for JoePa
- The perfect season
- We Are Penn State!
- 40 Years of the Joe Paterno Era at Penn State
- Game of my life
- What It Means to Be a Nittany Lion: Joe Paterno And Penn State's Greatest Players (What It Means)
- Penn State Nittany Lions: Where Have You Gone?
- Restoring the Pride
- Hello Nittany Lion!
- The Penn State Football button book
- Stadium Stories: Penn State Nittany Lions
- When I grow up I want to be a Nittany Lion!
- Greatest moments in Penn State football history
- I hate Penn State
- Lion kings
- Nittany Lions handbook
- "Welcome to the Big Ten"
- Penn State University national championship, 1986
Films: Wikidata (CC0) and Wikipedia’s lists and categories (CC BY-SA), about the program, its seasons, games and rivalries. Books: Open Library (CC0), filed under the program’s Library of Congress subject heading; most-reissued first, each linked to its page there.
Season by season
National championsShaded: national title seasons, No. 1 in the final AP poll or claimed by Penn State (2 claimed).
| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3–4 | 0–4 | 18 | Matt Campbell | 1576 | 9.6 | |
| 2025 | 7–6 | 3–6 | 2 | James Franklin, Terry Smith | 1690 | 18.1 | |
| 2024 | 13–3 | 8–1 | 8 | 5 | James Franklin | 1780 | 24.6 |
| 2023 | 10–3 | 7–2 | 7 | 13 | James Franklin | 1710 | 23.5 |
| 2022 | 11–2 | 7–2 | 7 | James Franklin | 1734 | 22.4 | |
| 2021 | 7–6 | 4–5 | 19 | James Franklin | 1600 | 14.3 | |
| 2020 | 4–5 | 4–5 | 7 | James Franklin | 1617 | 13.9 | |
| 2019 | 11–2 | 7–2 | 15 | 9 | James Franklin | 1766 | 24.3 |
| 2018 | 9–4 | 6–3 | 10 | 17 | James Franklin | 1707 | 19.0 |
| 2017 | 11–2 | 7–2 | 6 | 8 | James Franklin | 1768 | 26.0 |
| 2016 | 11–3 | 8–1 | 7 | James Franklin | 1696 | 19.0 | |
| 2015 | 7–6 | 4–4 | James Franklin | 1538 | 11.3 | ||
| 2014 | 7–6 | 2–6 | James Franklin | 1530 | 9.2 | ||
| 2013 | 7–5 | 4–4 | Bill O’Brien | 1598 | 8.9 | ||
| 2012 | 8–4 | 6–2 | Bill O’Brien | 1651 | 14.1 | ||
| 2011 | 9–4 | 6–2 | Joe Paterno, Tom Bradley | 1606 | 11.5 | ||
| 2010 | 7–6 | 4–4 | 19 | Joe Paterno | 1588 | 6.6 | |
| 2009 | 11–2 | 6–2 | 9 | 9 | Joe Paterno | 1739 | 21.9 |
| 2008 | 11–2 | 7–1 | 22 | 8 | Joe Paterno | 1755 | 29.5 |
| 2007 | 9–4 | 4–4 | 17 | Joe Paterno | 1663 | 20.2 | |
| 2006 | 9–4 | 5–3 | 19 | 24 | Joe Paterno | 1667 | 12.7 |
| 2005 | 11–1 | 7–1 | 3 | Joe Paterno | 1700 | 29.3 | |
| 2004 | 4–7 | 2–6 | Joe Paterno | 1485 | 7.4 | ||
| 2003 | 3–9 | 1–7 | Joe Paterno | 1461 | 2.8 | ||
| 2002 | 9–4 | 5–3 | 24 | 16 | Joe Paterno | 1637 | 20.8 |
Every season back to 1888 (114 more)
| Season | Record | Conf. | AP pre | AP final | Coach | Elo | SP+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 5–6 | 4–4 | Joe Paterno | 1536 | 10.2 | ||
| 2000 | 5–7 | 4–4 | 22 | Joe Paterno | 1559 | 2.4 | |
| 1999 | 10–3 | 5–3 | 3 | 11 | Joe Paterno | 1731 | 26.1 |
| 1998 | 9–3 | 5–3 | 13 | 17 | Joe Paterno | 1681 | 22.2 |
| 1997 | 9–3 | 6–2 | 1 | 16 | Joe Paterno | 1681 | 12.8 |
| 1996 | 11–2 | 6–2 | 11 | 7 | Joe Paterno | 1789 | 22.7 |
| 1995 | 9–3 | 5–3 | 4 | 13 | Joe Paterno | 1748 | 20.5 |
| 1994 | 12–0 | 8–0 | 9 | 2 | Joe Paterno | 1815 | 31.9 |
| 1993 | 10–2 | 6–2 | 16 | 8 | Joe Paterno | 1717 | 19.7 |
| 1992 | 7–5 | 8 | Joe Paterno | 1654 | 14.9 | ||
| 1991 | 11–2 | 7 | 3 | Joe Paterno | 1782 | 27.2 | |
| 1990 | 9–3 | 21 | 11 | Joe Paterno | 1706 | 20.7 | |
| 1989 | 8–3–1 | 11 | 15 | Joe Paterno | 1667 | 17.4 | |
| 1988 | 5–6 | 20 | Joe Paterno | 1555 | 9.4 | ||
| 1987 | 8–4 | 11 | Joe Paterno | 1649 | 10.1 | ||
| 1986 | 12–0 | 6 | 1 | Joe Paterno | 1796 | 28.4 | |
| 1985 | 11–1 | 18 | 3 | Joe Paterno | 1692 | 18.9 | |
| 1984 | 6–5 | 11 | Joe Paterno | 1558 | 7.3 | ||
| 1983 | 8–4–1 | 4 | Joe Paterno | 1703 | 14.9 | ||
| 1982 | 11–1 | 8 | 1 | Joe Paterno | 1833 | 29.5 | |
| 1981 | 10–2 | 7 | 3 | Joe Paterno | 1794 | 35.0 | |
| 1980 | 10–2 | 18 | 8 | Joe Paterno | 1740 | 29.5 | |
| 1979 | 8–4 | 5 | 20 | Joe Paterno | 1663 | 23.2 | |
| 1978 | 11–1 | 3 | 4 | Joe Paterno | 1791 | 27.7 | |
| 1977 | 11–1 | 13 | 5 | Joe Paterno | 1748 | 32.6 | |
| 1976 | 7–5 | 10 | Joe Paterno | 1633 | 12.6 | ||
| 1975 | 9–3 | 6 | 10 | Joe Paterno | 1719 | 25.2 | |
| 1974 | 10–2 | 8 | 7 | Joe Paterno | 1767 | 16.8 | |
| 1973 | 12–0 | 7 | 5 | Joe Paterno | 1803 | 26.7 | |
| 1972 | 10–2 | 5 | 10 | Joe Paterno | 1740 | 20.7 | |
| 1971 | 11–1 | 12 | 5 | Joe Paterno | 1762 | 22.7 | |
| 1970 | 7–3 | 7 | 18 | Joe Paterno | 1676 | 12.8 | |
| 1969 | 11–0 | 3 | 2 | Joe Paterno | 1797 | ||
| 1968 | 11–0 | 8 | 2 | Joe Paterno | 1765 | ||
| 1967 | 8–2–1 | 10 | Joe Paterno | 1678 | |||
| 1966 | 5–5 | Joe Paterno | 1575 | ||||
| 1965 | 5–5 | Rip Engle | 1604 | ||||
| 1964 | 6–4 | Rip Engle | 1672 | ||||
| 1963 | 7–3 | Rip Engle | 1670 | ||||
| 1962 | 9–2 | 9 | 9 | Rip Engle | 1711 | ||
| 1961 | 8–3 | 7 | 17 | Rip Engle | 1707 | ||
| 1960 | 7–3 | 19 | 16 | Rip Engle | 1710 | ||
| 1959 | 9–2 | 12 | Rip Engle | 1686 | |||
| 1958 | 6–3–1 | Rip Engle | 1621 | ||||
| 1957 | 6–3 | 16 | Rip Engle | 1604 | |||
| 1956 | 6–2–1 | Rip Engle | 1612 | ||||
| 1955 | 5–4 | Rip Engle | 1563 | ||||
| 1954 | 7–2 | 20 | Rip Engle | 1651 | |||
| 1953 | 6–3 | Rip Engle | 1638 | ||||
| 1952 | 7–2–1 | Rip Engle | 1599 | ||||
| 1951 | 5–4 | Rip Engle | 1515 | ||||
| 1950 | 5–3–1 | Rip Engle | 1539 | ||||
| 1949 | 5–4 | Joe Bedenk | 1588 | ||||
| 1948 | 7–1–1 | 10 | 18 | Bob Higgins | 1679 | ||
| 1947 | 9–0–1 | 12 | 4 | Bob Higgins | 1678 | ||
| 1946 | 6–2 | Bob Higgins | 1566 | ||||
| 1945 | 5–3 | Bob Higgins | 1532 | ||||
| 1944 | 6–3 | Bob Higgins | 1551 | ||||
| 1943 | 5–3–1 | Bob Higgins | 1581 | ||||
| 1942 | 6–1–1 | 19 | Bob Higgins | 1611 | |||
| 1941 | 7–2 | Bob Higgins | 1629 | ||||
| 1940 | 6–1–1 | Bob Higgins | 1572 | ||||
| 1939 | 5–1–2 | Bob Higgins | 1553 | ||||
| 1938 | 3–4–1 | Bob Higgins | 1464 | ||||
| 1937 | 5–3 | Bob Higgins | 1506 | ||||
| 1936 | 3–5 | Bob Higgins | 1448 | ||||
| 1935 | 4–4 | Bob Higgins | 1441 | ||||
| 1934 | 4–4 | Bob Higgins | 1416 | ||||
| 1933 | 3–3–1 | Bob Higgins | 1390 | ||||
| 1932 | 2–5 | Bob Higgins | 1367 | ||||
| 1931 | 2–8 | Bob Higgins | 1320 | ||||
| 1930 | 3–4–2 | Bob Higgins | 1425 | ||||
| 1929 | 6–3 | Hugo Bezdek | 1485 | ||||
| 1928 | 3–5–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1453 | ||||
| 1927 | 6–2–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1554 | ||||
| 1926 | 5–4 | Hugo Bezdek | 1485 | ||||
| 1925 | 4–4–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1512 | ||||
| 1924 | 6–3–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1571 | ||||
| 1923 | 6–2–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1603 | ||||
| 1922 | 6–4–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1564 | ||||
| 1921 | 8–0–2 | Hugo Bezdek | 1700 | ||||
| 1920 | 7–0–2 | Hugo Bezdek | 1659 | ||||
| 1919 | 7–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1604 | ||||
| 1918few games on file | 1–2–1 | Hugo Bezdek | 1469 | ||||
| 1917 | 5–4 | Dick Harlow | 1515 | ||||
| 1916 | 8–2 | Dick Harlow | 1568 | ||||
| 1915 | 7–2 | Dick Harlow | 1568 | ||||
| 1914 | 5–3–1 | Bill Hollenback | 1493 | ||||
| 1913 | 2–6 | Bill Hollenback | 1520 | ||||
| 1912 | 8–0 | Bill Hollenback | 1700 | ||||
| 1911 | 8–0–1 | Bill Hollenback | 1655 | ||||
| 1910 | 5–2–1 | Jack Hollenback | 1573 | ||||
| 1909 | 5–0–2 | Bill Hollenback | 1617 | ||||
| 1908 | 5–5 | Tom Fennell | 1552 | ||||
| 1907 | 6–4 | Tom Fennell | 1550 | ||||
| 1906 | 8–1–1 | Tom Fennell | 1612 | ||||
| 1905 | 8–3 | Tom Fennell | 1565 | ||||
| 1904 | 6–4 | Tom Fennell | 1507 | ||||
| 1903 | 5–3 | Daniel Reed | 1544 | ||||
| 1902 | 7–3 | Pop Golden | 1536 | ||||
| 1901 | 5–3 | Pop Golden | 1434 | ||||
| 1900 | 4–6–1 | Pop Golden | 1364 | ||||
| 1899 | 4–6–1 | Sam Boyle | 1400 | ||||
| 1898 | 6–4 | Samuel Newton | 1479 | ||||
| 1897 | 3–6 | Samuel Newton | 1410 | ||||
| 1896 | 3–4 | Samuel Newton | 1420 | ||||
| 1895few games on file | 0–1–1 | George W. Hoskins | 1497 | ||||
| 1894few games on file | 1–0 | George W. Hoskins | 1508 | ||||
| 1893few games on file | 0–1 | George W. Hoskins | 1481 | ||||
| 1892few games on file | 1–1 | George W. Hoskins | 1484 | ||||
| 1891 | 5–2 | 1474 | |||||
| 1890few games on file | 0–2 | 1394 | |||||
| 1889few games on file | 2–2 | 1411 | |||||
| 1888few games on file | 0–1 | 1439 |
Officially 953–419–42 since 1887 (per Wikipedia, rechecked weekly); game by game here, 933–420–38 (−20 wins, +1 loss, −4 ties). Our file starts in 1888; the program began in 1887. Some games are missing from our source.
Records are computed from every game on file at CollegeFootballData.com, whose coverage of the earliest seasons can be incomplete. Elo is this site’s own rating; see how it works on the records page.