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1980 Penn State

10–⁠2, coached by Joe Paterno, finished No. 8 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Penn State in 1980, game by game: won vs. Colgate 54–10; won at Texas A&M 25–9; lost vs. No. 3 Nebraska 7–21; won at No. 9 Missouri 29–21; won at Maryland 24–10; won vs. Syracuse 24–7; won at West Virginia 20–15; won vs. Miami 27–12; won vs. NC State 21–13; won at Temple 50–7; lost vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh 9–14; won vs. No. 11 Ohio State 31–19+44−14Won 54–10 vs. Colgate+44ColgateWon 25–9 at Texas A&M+16Texas A&MLost 7–21 vs. No. 3 Nebraska-14No. 3 NebraskaWon 29–21 at No. 9 Missouri+8No. 9 MissouriWon 24–10 at Maryland+14MarylandWon 24–7 vs. Syracuse+17SyracuseWon 20–15 at West Virginia+5West VirginiaWon 27–12 vs. Miami+15MiamiWon 21–13 vs. NC State+8NC StateWon 50–7 at Temple+43TempleLost 9–14 vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh-5No. 4 PittsburghWon 31–19 vs. No. 11 Ohio State+12No. 11 Ohio State
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 6vsColgateW 54–⁠1079%
Sep 20atTexas A&MW 25–⁠951%
Sep 27vs3NebraskaL 7–⁠2154%
Oct 4at9MissouriW 29–⁠2140%
Oct 11atMarylandW 24–⁠1053%
Oct 18vsSyracuseW 24–⁠776%
Oct 25atWest VirginiaW 20–⁠1569%
Nov 1vsMiamiW 27–⁠1277%
Nov 8vsNC StateW 21–⁠1380%
Nov 15atTempleW 50–⁠774%
Nov 28vs4PittsburghL 9–⁠1454%
Dec 26Bowls & playoffvs11Ohio StateFiesta BowlW 31–⁠1952%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Ohio State 31–⁠19 in the Fiesta Bowl; No. 8 in the final AP poll.

In program history: The 19th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 139 on file).

AP poll, week by week

  1. Wk 1: 18
  2. Wk 2: 14
  3. Wk 3: 12
  4. Wk 4: 11
  5. Wk 5: 17
  6. Wk 6: 14
  7. Wk 7: 12
  8. Wk 8: 13
  9. Wk 9: 13
  10. Wk 10: 10
  11. Wk 11: 9
  12. Wk 12: 7
  13. Wk 13: 5
  14. Wk 14: 10
  15. Wk 15: 10
  16. Final: 8

Players on this team

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 1980.

Record
10–⁠2
Conference
—
AP final
No. 8 peak No. 5
Points
321–⁠158
Coach
Joe Paterno
Elo
1740 +131 this season
SP+ rating
29.5 No. 4 of 133; offense No. 7, defense No. 6
SRS
23.0 No. 6 of 138 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Defensive coordinator
Jerry Sandusky
Captains
Bob Jagers and Greg Jones
Offense
I formation
Defense
4–⁠3

Drafted in 1981

The 1981 draft
Rd 1Booker Moore RBBuffalo Bills
Rd 3Bill Dugan OGSeattle Seahawks
Rd 6Pete Kugler DTSan Francisco 49ers
Rd 6Larry Kubin LBWashington Redskins
Rd 7Brad Scovill TESeattle Seahawks