CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

1956 Penn State

6–⁠2–⁠1, coached by Rip Engle.

Schedule and results

Penn State in 1956, game by game: won at Pennsylvania 34–0; lost at No. 15 Army 7–14; won vs. Holy Cross 43–0; won at No. 5 Ohio State 7–6; won vs. West Virginia 16–6; lost at No. 17 Syracuse 9–13; won vs. Boston University 40–7; won vs. NC State 14–7; tied at No. 14 Pittsburgh 7–7+43−7Won 34–0 at Pennsylvania+34PennsylvaniaLost 7–14 at No. 15 Army-7No. 15 ArmyWon 43–0 vs. Holy Cross+43Holy CrossWon 7–6 at No. 5 Ohio State+1No. 5 Ohio StateWon 16–6 vs. West Virginia+10West VirginiaLost 9–13 at No. 17 Syracuse-4No. 17 SyracuseWon 40–7 vs. Boston University+33Boston Universi…Won 14–7 vs. NC State+7NC StateTied 7–7 at No. 14 Pittsburgh0No. 14 Pittsburgh
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 29atPennsylvaniaW 34–⁠071%
Oct 6at15ArmyL 7–⁠1436%
Oct 13vsHoly CrossW 43–⁠069%
Oct 20at5Ohio StateW 7–⁠626%
Oct 27vsWest VirginiaW 16–⁠653%
Nov 3at17SyracuseL 9–⁠1335%
Nov 10vsBoston UniversityW 40–⁠783%
Nov 17vsNC StateW 14–⁠780%
Nov 24at14PittsburghT 7–⁠738%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Tied Pittsburgh 7–⁠7; unranked in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 65th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 139 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Wk 6: 18
  2. Wk 7: 12
Record
6–⁠2–⁠1
Conference
—
AP final
Unranked peak No. 12
Points
177–⁠60
Coach
Rip Engle
Elo
1612 +71 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
12.9 No. 22 of 111 major-college teams
Recruiting class
—
Captain
Sam Valentine

Drafted in 1957

The 1957 draft
Rd 2Milt Plum QBCleveland Browns