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Penn State Football Team History


Penn State Nittany Lions
The Pennsylvania State University
 University Park, PA
Founded: 1855
Stadium: Beaver Stadium
Capacity: 106,537
Colors: Blue & White
Coach: Robert A. Bob Higgins
Conference: Independent-

Team Home Summary  Coaches Games by Year Opponents Rankings Bowls Conference


Select Year:    
1881  <-- 1938 <- 1939 -> 1940 --> 2024
1939 Season Highlights
 Robert A. Bob Higgins enters his 10th season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1939 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Oct. 7  vs. Bucknell  13   3   W       
 Sat., Oct. 14  vs. Lehigh  49   7   W       
 Sat., Oct. 21  @ Cornell  0   47   L       
 Sat., Oct. 28  @ Syracuse  6   6   T       
 Sat., Nov. 4  vs. Maryland  12   0   W       
 Sat., Nov. 11  @ Pennsylvania  10   0   W       
 Sat., Nov. 18  @ Army  14   14   T       
 Sat., Nov. 25  vs. Pittsburgh  10   0   W       
 
1939 Season Totals
  Record5-1 -2
  Points Scored114
  Scoring Average14.3
  Points Allowed77
  Defense Average9.6
  Opponents Record13-18
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record4-0
  Away Record1-1 -2
1939 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
  was not ranked.
  
1939 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Connecticut 5-39997   J.O. Christian
Boston College 9-221946Lost  3-6  Frank W. Leahy
Central Michigan 8-113640   Ron Finch
Notre Dame 7-210073   Elmer F. Layden
Ohio 6-311682   Don Peden
Georgia Southern 5-593124   Crook Smith
Penn State 5-1-211477   Robert A. Bob Higgins
Pittsburgh 5-411998   Charles W. Bowser
Virginia 5-414375   Frank J. Murray
Cincinnati 4-3-28765   Joseph A. Joe Meyer
Michigan State 4-4-110292   Charles W. Bachman
Army 3-4-2106105   William H. Wood
Eastern Michigan 3-3-16864   Elton J. Rynearson
Navy 3-5-188107   Major Emery E. Swede Larson
Syracuse 3-3-26392   Oscar M. Ossie Solem
Temple 2-75196   Fred H. Swan
West Virginia 2-6-17094   Dr. Marshall Little Sleepy Glenn
Western Michigan 2-6-15285   Mitchell Gary
Massachusetts 2-5-267103   Elbert Carraway
Miami Ohio 1-7-121104   Frank Wilton
Buffalo 0-77126   Jim Peele
East Carolina 0-818168   O.A. Hanker

1939 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1939 All Independent Conference Players
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 


Some records may be incomplete.


Great Moments in College Football History

In the 1940s, college football teams competed for the Oil Bowl, the Salad Bowl and the Raisin Bowl, which were all played on New Year's Day.