The Penn State Nittany Lions represent the Pennsylvania State University which competes in the Big Ten Conference. In 1887, they recorded their first game of intercollegiate football and secured their two national championships in 1982 and 1986. The Nittany Lions compete in Division I of the NCAA as a member of the Big Ten Conference. As of 2025, Penn State has won four Big Ten Conference championships and has also won the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Football Association Conference championship. The Nittany Lions play their home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
The Penn State Nittany Lions had a remarkable season in 1986 when the team completed a perfect season, finishing undefeated with a record of 12-0 and securing the national championship. For that season, Joe Paterno was the head coach. His team came from behind to beat the Miami Hurricanes in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State's defense intercepted Miami's quarterback five times to secure a 14-10 win.
Penn State Nittany Lions Bowl Record
The Penn State Nittany Lions' all-time bowl record is 32 wins, 20 losses, and two draws. They have participated in 54 Bowl games, as of January 2025.
| Season | Bowl | Opponent | Result |
| 1922 | Rose Bowl | USC | L |
| 1947 | Cotton Bowl Classic | SMU | T |
| 1959 | Liberty Bowl | Alabama | W |
| 1960 | Liberty Bowl | Oregon | W |
| 1961 | Gator Bowl | Georgia Tech | W |
| 1962 | Gator Bowl | Florida | L |
| 1967 | Gator Bowl | Florida State | T |
| 1968 | Orange Bowl | Kansas | W |
| 1969 | Orange Bowl | Missouri | W |
| 1971 | Cotton Bowl Classic | Texas | W |
| 1972 | Sugar Bowl | Oklahoma | L |
| 1973 | Orange Bowl | Oklahoma | W |
| 1974 | Cotton Bowl Classic | Baylor | W |
| 1975 | Sugar Bowl | Alabama | L |
| 1976 | Gator Bowl | Notre Dame | L |
| 1977 | Fiesta Bowl | Arizona State | W |
| 1978 | Sugar Bowl | Alabama | L |
| 1979 | Liberty Bowl | Tulane | W |
| 1980 | Fiesta Bowl | Ohio State | W |
| 1981 | Fiesta Bowl | USC | W |
| 1982 | Sugar Bowl | Georgia | W |
| 1983 | Aloha Bowl | Washington | W |
| 1985 | Orange Bowl | Oklahoma | L |
| 1986 | Fiesta Bowl | Miami (FL) | W |
| 1987 | Citrus Bowl | Clemson | L |
| 1989 | Holiday Bowl | BYU | W |
| 1990 | Blockbuster Bowl | Florida State | L |
| 1991 | Fiesta Bowl | Tennessee | W |
| 1992 | Blockbuster Bowl | Stanford | L |
| 1993 | Citrus Bowl | Tennessee | W |
| 1994 | Rose Bowl | Oregon | W |
| 1995 | Outback Bowl | Auburn | W |
| 1996 | Fiesta Bowl | Texas | W |
| 1997 | Citrus Bowl | Florida | L |
| 1998 | Outback Bowl | Kentucky | W |
| 1999 | Alamo Bowl | Texas A&M | W |
| 2002 | Capital One Bowl | Auburn | L |
| 2005 | Orange Bowl | Florida State | W |
| 2006 | Outback Bowl | Tennessee | W |
| 2007 | Alamo Bowl | Texas A&M | W |
| 2008 | Rose Bowl | USC | L |
| 2009 | Capital One Bowl | LSU | W |
| 2010 | Outback Bowl | Florida | L |
| 2011 | TicketCity Bowl | Houston | L |
| 2014 | Pinstripe Bowl | Boston College | W |
| 2015 | TaxSlayer Bowl | Georgia | L |
| 2016 | Rose Bowl | USC | L |
| 2017 | Fiesta Bowl | Washington | W |
| 2018 | Citrus Bowl | Kentucky | L |
| 2019 | Cotton Bowl Classic | Memphis | W |
| 2021 | Outback Bowl | Arkansas | L |
| 2022 | Rose Bowl | Utah | W |
| 2023 | Peach Bowl | Ole Miss | L |
| 2024 | Fiesta Bowl | Boise State | W |
Read More: Penn State National Championship Wins
Penn State Nittany Lions All-time Record
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team logged an all-time record of 921–403–37 with a 69% winning percentage. In the 2024-25 season, the Nittany Lions finished with an overall 11-2 record.
Read More: Penn State Nittany Lions Football Stadium
FAQs on Penn State Nittany Lions
A. The Penn State Nittany Lions were established in 1887.
A. The Penn State Nittany Lions competes in the Big Ten Conference.
A. James Franklin is the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions team.
A. The Penn State Nittany Lions have won two consensus national championships, in 1982 and 1986.
A. Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, United States is the home stadium for the Penn State Nittany Lions.
A. The official colors of Penn State Nittany Lions are blue and white
