AHSFHS.org

Search Site

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-

Select Year:

1881 <-- 1980 <- 1981 -> 1982 --> 2024

1981 Season Highlights

Joe Paterno enters his 16th season as Head Coach at Penn State.

1981 Season

Date	Opponent	Score
Sat., Sep. 12	vs. Cincinnati	52	0	W
Sat., Sep. 26	@ Nebraska	30	24	W
Sat., Oct. 3	vs. Temple	30	0	W
Sat., Oct. 10	vs. Boston College	38	7	W
Sat., Oct. 17	@ Syracuse	41	16	W
Sat., Oct. 24	vs. West Virginia	30	7	W
Sat., Oct. 31	@ Miami (Florida)	14	17	L
Sat., Nov. 7	@ North Carolina State	22	15	W
Sat., Nov. 14	vs. Alabama	16	31	L
Sat., Nov. 21	vs. Notre Dame	24	21	W
Sat., Nov. 28	@ Pittsburgh	48	14	W
Fri., Jan. 1	Southern California	26	10	W	@ Tempe, AZ	Fiesta Bowl

1981 Season Totals
Record	10-2
Points Scored	371
Scoring Average	30.9
Points Allowed	162
Defense Average	13.5
Opponents Record	76-47
Conference Record	0-0
Home Record	5-1
Away Record	4-1

1981 NCAA Final Rankings
Rank	Record	Source
3	10-2-0	AP
3	10-2-0	Coaches
3	10-2-0	UPI

1981 Independent- Standings
	Season			Bowls	Conference
Team	W/L/T	PF	PA		W/L/T	PF	PA	Coach
Louisiana Monroe	5-6	309	251					Pat Collins
Pittsburgh	11-1	385	160	Won 24-20				Jackie Sherrill
Penn State	10-2	371	162	Won 26-10				Joe Paterno
Southern Mississippi	9-2-1	305	108	Lost 17-19				Bobby Collins
West Virginia	9-3	284	155	Won 26-6				Don Nehlen
Navy	7-4-1	244	183	Lost 28-31				George Welsh
Virginia Tech	7-4	232	128					Bill Dooley
Cincinnati	6-5	171	187					Mike Gottfried
Florida State	6-5	240	286					Bobby Bowden
Nevada Las Vegas	6-6	326	433					Tony Knap
South Carolina	6-6	225	222					Jim Carlen
Tulane	6-5	213	144					Vince Gibson
Akron	5-5	132	183					Jim Dennison
Boston College	5-6	243	298					Jack Bicknell, Sr.
Buffalo	5-5	187	168					Bill Dando
East Carolina	5-6	242	290					Ed Emory
Louisville	5-6	180	212					Bob Weber
Notre Dame	5-6	232	160					Gerry Faust
Rutgers	5-6	139	208					Frank R. Burns
Temple	5-5	181	195					Wayne Hardin
Central Florida	4-6	142	130					Don Jonas
Syracuse	4-6-1	248	265					Dick MacPherson
Army	3-7-1	126	212					Ed Cavanaugh
James Madison	3-8	198	265					Challace McMillin
North Texas	2-9	111	235					Bob Tyler
Liberty	1-9	135	308					Tom Dowling
Memphis	1-10	82	209					Rex Dockery

1981 All American Awards
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Award	Team	Source
Coming Someday

1981 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 forward pass first appeared in college football in 1906. It was introduced in an attempt to increase scoring and reduce injuries.