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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  <-- 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
  Record11-1
  Points Scored333
  Scoring Average27.8
  Points Allowed111
  Defense Average9.3
  Opponents Record75-59
  Conference Record0-0
  Home Record7-0
  Away Record4-0
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 6-4-1190144   John David Crow
Nevada 11-1413121   Chris Ault
Penn State 11-1333111Lost  7-14  Joe Paterno
East Carolina 9-3287136Won  35-13  Pat Dye
Navy 9-3260136Won  23-16  George Welsh
North Texas 9-2277150   Hayden Fry
Notre Dame 9-3293197Won  35-34  Dan Devine
Rutgers 9-3284165Lost  18-34  Frank R. Burns
Florida State 8-3312208   Bobby Bowden
James Madison 8-2236124   Challace McMillin
Pittsburgh 8-4263187Lost  17-30  Jackie Sherrill
Louisville 7-4319202   Vince Gibson
Nevada Las Vegas 7-4249182   Tony Knap
Southern Mississippi 7-4213185   Bobby Collins
Temple 7-3-1280203   Wayne Hardin
Akron 6-5221232   Jim Dennison
Cincinnati 5-6279224   Ralph Staub
South Carolina 5-5-1238181   Jim Carlen
Army 4-6-1184255   Homer Smith
Liberty 4-5-1186264   Tom Dowling
Memphis 4-7200297   Richard Williamson
Tulane 4-7183211   Larry Smith
Virginia Tech 4-7162225   Bill Dooley
Air Force 3-8215328   Bill Parcells
Buffalo 3-6164211   Bill Dando
Syracuse 3-8192295   Frank Maloney
West Virginia 2-9167364   Frank Cignetti
Boston College 0-11153294   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

The oldest college football bowl game is the Rose Bowl, which was first played in 1902.