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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: Joe Paterno
Conference: Independent-

Team Home Summary  Coaches Games by Year Opponents Rankings Bowls Conference


Select Year:    
1881  <-- 1975 <- 1976 -> 1977 --> 2024
1976 Season Highlights
 Joe Paterno enters his 11th season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1976 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Sep. 11  vs. Stanford  15   12   W       
 Sat., Sep. 18  vs. Ohio State  7   12   L       
 Sat., Sep. 25  vs. Iowa  6   7   L       
 Sat., Oct. 2  @ Kentucky  6   22   L       
 Sat., Oct. 9  vs. Army  38   16   W       
 Sat., Oct. 16  vs. Syracuse  27   3   W       
 Sat., Oct. 23  @ West Virginia  33   0   W       
 Sat., Oct. 30  @ Temple  31   30   W       
 Sat., Nov. 6  vs. North Carolina State  41   20   W       
 Sat., Nov. 13  @ Miami (Florida)  21   7   W       
 Fri., Nov. 26  @ Pittsburgh  7   24   L    @ Pittsburgh, PA   
 Mon., Dec. 27   Notre Dame  9   20   L    @ Jacksonville, FL   Gator Bowl
 
1976 Season Totals
  Record7-5
  Points Scored241
  Scoring Average20.1
  Points Allowed173
  Defense Average14.4
  Opponents Record70-52
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record4-2
  Away Record3-2
1976 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
  was not ranked.
  
1976 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Louisiana Monroe 2-9206321   John David Crow
Pittsburgh 12-0381133Won  27-3  Johnny Majors
Rutgers 11-028781   Frank R. Burns
Akron 10-3281144   Jim Dennison
San Diego State 10-1197125   Claude Gilbert
Nevada Las Vegas 9-3359287   Tony Knap
Notre Dame 9-3294158Won  20-9  Dan Devine
Boston College 8-3239125   Joseph Joe Yukica
Cincinnati 8-3204114   Tony Mason
Memphis 8-3241182   Richard Williamson
Nevada 8-3409243   Chris Ault
James Madison 7-4249198   Challace McMillin
North Texas 7-4232145   Hayden Fry
Penn State 7-5241173Lost  9-20  Joe Paterno
South Carolina 6-5195143   Jim Carlen
Virginia Tech 6-5223176   Jimmy Sharpe
Army 5-6201267   Homer Smith
Florida State 5-6205258   Bobby Bowden
Liberty 5-4-1263196   John Cartwright
Louisville 5-6177234   Vince Gibson
West Virginia 5-6184202   Frank Cignetti
Air Force 4-7180273   Ben Martin
Georgia Tech 4-6-1221267   Pepper Rodgers
Marshall 4-7151243   Frank Ellwood
Navy 4-7187257   George Welsh
Temple 4-6196216   Wayne Hardin
Miami 3-8207213Lost  10-19  Carl Selmer
Southern Mississippi 3-8145296   Bobby Collins
Syracuse 3-8154263   Frank Maloney
Utah State 3-8170263   Bruce Snyder
Tulane 2-9149228   Larry Smith

1976 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1976 All Independent Conference Players
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 


Some records may be incomplete.


Great Moments in College Football History

The first college football National Champion was Princeton. They received the honor in 1869 and only played two games.