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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  <-- 1971 <- 1972 -> 1973 --> 2024
1972 Season Highlights
 Joe Paterno enters his 7th season as Head Coach at Penn State.
 
1972 Season
 Date   Opponent  Score   
 Sat., Sep. 16  @ Tennessee  21   28   L       
 Sat., Sep. 23  vs. Navy  21   10   W       
 Sat., Sep. 30  vs. Iowa  14   10   W       
 Sat., Oct. 7  @ Illinois  35   17   W       
 Sat., Oct. 14  @ Army  45   0   W       
 Sat., Oct. 21  vs. Syracuse  17   0   W       
 Sat., Oct. 28  @ West Virginia  28   19   W       
 Sat., Nov. 4  vs. Maryland  46   16   W       
 Sat., Nov. 11  vs. North Carolina State  37   22   W       
 Sat., Nov. 18  @ Boston College  45   26   W       
 Sat., Nov. 25  vs. Pittsburgh  49   27   W       
 Sun., Dec. 31   Oklahoma  0   14   L    @ New Orleans, LA   Sugar Bowl
 
1972 Season Totals
  Record10-2
  Points Scored358
  Scoring Average29.8
  Points Allowed189
  Defense Average15.8
  Opponents Record68-64
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record6-0
  Away Record4-1
1972 NCAA Final Rankings
 Rank   Record   Source 
10 10-1-0 AP
8 10-1-0 Coaches
8 10-1-0 UPI
  
1972 Independent- Standings
  Season   Bowls   Conference 
 Team  W/L/T  PF  PA    W/L/T  PF  PA   Coach 
Louisiana Monroe 3-7125188   Ollie Keller
Penn State 10-2358189Lost  0-14  Joe Paterno
Notre Dame 8-3289192Lost  6-40  Ara R. Parseghian
Utah State 8-3329230   Chuck Mills
West Virginia 8-4415289Lost  13-49  Bobby Bowden
Florida State 7-4287224   Larry Jones
Georgia Tech 7-4-1284226Won  31-30  Bill Fulcher
Northern Illinois 7-4198141   Jerry Ippoliti
Air Force 6-4303183   Ben Martin
Army 6-4160282   Tom Cahill
Houston 6-4-1325202   Bill Yeoman
Nevada 6-5276218   Jerry Scattine
Tulane 6-5212165   Bennie Ellender
Virginia Tech 6-4-1307253   Charlie Coffey
Ball State 5-4-1235180   Dave McClain
Miami 5-6214170   Fran Curci
Syracuse 5-6141229   Floyd B. Ben Schwartzwalder
Temple 5-4164176   Wayne Hardin
Boston College 4-7240258   Joseph Joe Yukica
Navy 4-7181257   Richard Rick Forzano
Southern Mississippi 3-7-1182231   P.W. Bear Underwood
Cincinnati 2-9138323   Ray Callahan
Marshall 2-893254   Jack Lengyel
Nevada Las Vegas 1-10149289   Bill Ireland
Pittsburgh 1-10193350   Carl A. DePasqua
James Madison 0-4-10140   Challace McMillin

1972 All American Awards
 Player   Position   Class   Ht.   Wt.   Award   Team   Source 
 Coming Someday 

1972 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 game was broadcast on television in 1939. The teams involved were Fordham University and Waynesburg College.