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1982 Penn State

11–⁠1, coached by Joe Paterno, finished No. 1 in the AP poll.

Schedule and results

Penn State in 1982, game by game: won vs. Temple 31–14; won vs. Maryland 39–31; won vs. Rutgers 49–14; won vs. No. 2 Nebraska 27–24; lost at No. 4 Alabama 21–42; won vs. Syracuse 28–7; won at No. 13 West Virginia 24–0; won at Boston College 52–17; won vs. NC State 54–0; won at No. 13 Notre Dame 24–14; won vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh 19–10; won vs. No. 1 Georgia 27–23+54−21Won 31–14 vs. Temple+17TempleWon 39–31 vs. Maryland+8MarylandWon 49–14 vs. Rutgers+35RutgersWon 27–24 vs. No. 2 Nebraska+3No. 2 NebraskaLost 21–42 at No. 4 Alabama-21No. 4 AlabamaWon 28–7 vs. Syracuse+21SyracuseWon 24–0 at No. 13 West Virginia+24No. 13 West VirginiaWon 52–17 at Boston College+35Boston CollegeWon 54–0 vs. NC State+54NC StateWon 24–14 at No. 13 Notre Dame+10No. 13 Notre DameWon 19–10 vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh+9No. 5 PittsburghWon 27–23 vs. No. 1 Georgia+4No. 1 Georgia
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below; orange marks an upset win.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 4vsTempleW 31–⁠1480%
Sep 11vsMarylandW 39–⁠3180%
Sep 18vsRutgersW 49–⁠1486%
Sep 25vs2NebraskaW 27–⁠2462%
Oct 9at4AlabamaL 21–⁠4243%
Oct 16vsSyracuseW 28–⁠787%
Oct 23at13West VirginiaW 24–⁠049%
Oct 30atBoston CollegeW 52–⁠1761%
Nov 6vsNC StateW 54–⁠085%
Nov 13at13Notre DameW 24–⁠1458%
Nov 26vs5PittsburghW 19–⁠1066%
Jan 1Bowls & playoffvs1GeorgiaSugar BowlW 27–⁠2355%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Beat Georgia 27–⁠23 in the Sugar Bowl; No. 1 in the final AP poll.

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

AP poll, week by week

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

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 1982.

National championsNo. 1 in the final AP poll, and a title the school claims

Davey O’Brien AwardTodd Blackledge, QB

Eddie Robinson Coach of the YearJoe Paterno, coach

Record
11–⁠1
Conference
6–⁠0 first in the Major eastern college football independents (Wikipedia)
AP final
No. 1 peak No. 1
Points
395–⁠196
Coach
Joe Paterno
Elo
1833 +138 this season
SP+ rating
29.5 No. 1 of 109; offense No. 3, defense No. 11
SRS
25.8 No. 2 of 113 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
—
Offensive coordinator
Dick Anderson
Defensive coordinator
Jerry Sandusky
Captains
Walker Lee Ashley, Ken Kelley, Stuart McMunn and Pete Speros
Offense
Pro-style
Defense
4–⁠3

Drafted in 1983

The 1983 draft
Rd 1Curt Warner RBSeattle Seahawks
Rd 1Todd Blackledge QBKansas City Chiefs
Rd 3Walker Lee Ashley LBMinnesota Vikings
Rd 4Mike McCloskey TEHouston Oilers
Rd 5Bill Contz OTCleveland Browns
Rd 5Gregg Garrity WRPittsburgh Steelers