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 <-- 1977 <- 1978 -> 1979 --> 2024

1978 Season Highlights

Joe Paterno enters his 13th season as Head Coach at Penn State.

1978 Season

Date	Opponent	Score
Fri., Sep. 1	@ Temple	10	7	W
Sat., Sep. 9	vs. Rutgers	26	10	W
Sat., Sep. 16	@ Ohio State	19	0	W
Sat., Sep. 23	vs. Southern Methodist	26	21	W
Sat., Sep. 30	vs. Texas Christian	58	0	W
Sat., Oct. 7	@ Kentucky	30	0	W
Sat., Oct. 21	vs. Syracuse	45	15	W
Sat., Oct. 28	@ West Virginia	49	21	W
Sat., Nov. 4	vs. Maryland	27	3	W
Sat., Nov. 11	vs. North Carolina State	19	10	W
Sat., Nov. 25	vs. Pittsburgh	17	10	W
Mon., Jan. 1	Alabama	7	14	L	@ New Orleans, LA	Sugar Bowl

1978 Season Totals
Record	11-1
Points Scored	333
Scoring Average	27.8
Points Allowed	111
Defense Average	9.3
Opponents Record	75-59
Conference Record	0-0
Home Record	7-0
Away Record	4-0

1978 NCAA Final Rankings
Rank	Record	Source
4	11-1-0	AP
4	11-1-0	Coaches
4	11-1-0	UPI

1978 Independent- Standings
	Season			Bowls	Conference
Team	W/L/T	PF	PA		W/L/T	PF	PA	Coach
Louisiana Monroe	6-4-1	190	144					John David Crow
Nevada	11-1	413	121					Chris Ault
Penn State	11-1	333	111	Lost 7-14				Joe Paterno
East Carolina	9-3	287	136	Won 35-13				Pat Dye
Navy	9-3	260	136	Won 23-16				George Welsh
North Texas	9-2	277	150					Hayden Fry
Notre Dame	9-3	293	197	Won 35-34				Dan Devine
Rutgers	9-3	284	165	Lost 18-34				Frank R. Burns
Florida State	8-3	312	208					Bobby Bowden
James Madison	8-2	236	124					Challace McMillin
Pittsburgh	8-4	263	187	Lost 17-30				Jackie Sherrill
Louisville	7-4	319	202					Vince Gibson
Nevada Las Vegas	7-4	249	182					Tony Knap
Southern Mississippi	7-4	213	185					Bobby Collins
Temple	7-3-1	280	203					Wayne Hardin
Akron	6-5	221	232					Jim Dennison
Cincinnati	5-6	279	224					Ralph Staub
South Carolina	5-5-1	238	181					Jim Carlen
Army	4-6-1	184	255					Homer Smith
Liberty	4-5-1	186	264					Tom Dowling
Memphis	4-7	200	297					Richard Williamson
Tulane	4-7	183	211					Larry Smith
Virginia Tech	4-7	162	225					Bill Dooley
Air Force	3-8	215	328					Bill Parcells
Buffalo	3-6	164	211					Bill Dando
Syracuse	3-8	192	295					Frank Maloney
West Virginia	2-9	167	364					Frank Cignetti
Boston College	0-11	153	294					Ed Chlebek

1978 All American Awards
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Award	Team	Source
Coming Someday

1978 All Independent Conference Players
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Team	Source
Coming Someday

Some records may be incomplete.

Great Moments in College Football History

Chief Osceola, the Florida State mascot who rides out and plants a flaming spear at midfield before each home game, has been approved by Florida's Seminole Indian Tribe.