1971 Penn State

• Best winBeat No. 12 Texas 30–⁠6Jan 1

  Over the best-ranked team it beat, at a neutral site.

Date	Opponent	Result	Elo
Sep 18	atNavy	W 56–⁠3		71%
Sep 25	atIowa	W 44–⁠14		72%
Oct 2	vsAir Force	W 16–⁠14		67%
Oct 9	vsArmy	W 42–⁠0		82%
Oct 16	atSyracuse	W 31–⁠0		62%
Oct 23	vsTCU	W 66–⁠14		84%
Oct 30	atWest Virginia	W 35–⁠7		54%
Nov 6	vsMaryland	W 63–⁠27		93%
Nov 13	vsNC State	W 35–⁠3		93%
Nov 20	atPittsburgh	W 55–⁠18		84%
Dec 4	at12Tennessee	L 11–⁠31		49%
Jan 1Bowls & playoff	vs12TexasCotton Bowl	W 30–⁠6		53%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

1. Wk 1: 12
2. Wk 2: 14
3. Wk 3: 12
4. Wk 4: 9
5. Wk 5: 9
6. Wk 6: 9
7. Wk 7: 7
8. Wk 8: 6
9. Wk 9: 6
10. Wk 10: 5
11. Wk 11: 6
12. Wk 12: 6
13. Wk 13: 5
14. Wk 14: 10
15. Final: 5

• John CappellettiRunning back
• Franco HarrisRunning back
• Lydell MitchellRunning back
• Doug AllenLinebacker
• Dave JoynerOffensive tackle
• Steve JoachimQuarterback
• Tom DonchezRunning back

Before 2004 our records hold honors and the draft; these are the players whose college years here, from their Wikipedia articles or their honors, include 1971.