1986_Penn_State_Nittany_Lions_football_team
1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
American college football season
The 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 21st-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 12–0. Penn State defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 14–10, in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win Paterno's second consensus national championship.[1] The team was named national champion by AP, Billingsley, FB News, FW, Matthews, NCF, NFF, Sporting News, UPI, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by FACT, Sagarin (ELO-Chess).[2]
Quick Facts Penn State Nittany Lions football, Consensus national championFiesta Bowl championEastern champion ...
| 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football | |
|---|---|
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Fiesta Bowl, W 14–10 vs. Miami (FL) | |
| Conference | Independent |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 1 |
| AP | No. 1 |
| Record | 12–0 |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Fran Ganter (3rd season) |
| Offensive scheme | Pro-style |
| Defensive coordinator | Jerry Sandusky (10th season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Home stadium | Beaver Stadium |
Seasons | |
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More information Conf, Overall ...
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Penn State $ | 6 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 12 | – | 0 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 19 Boston College | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | 3 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 2 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | 1 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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More information Conf, Overall ...
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 1 Penn State | – | – | 12 | – | 0 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 2 Miami (FL) | – | – | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Virginia Tech | – | – | 9 | – | 2 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 19 Boston College | – | – | 9 | – | 3 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulsa | – | – | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Florida State | – | – | 7 | – | 4 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Army | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southwestern Louisiana | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern Miss | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Temple | – | – | 6 | – | 5 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pittsburgh | – | – | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | – | – | 5 | – | 5 | – | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | – | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notre Dame | – | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Syracuse | – | – | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Carolina | – | – | 3 | – | 6 | – | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tulane | – | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Virginia | – | – | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Louisville | – | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navy | – | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wichita State | – | – | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Carolina | – | – | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Illinois | – | – | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Memphis State | – | – | 1 | – | 10 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rankings from AP Poll | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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More information Date, Time ...
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Temple | No. 6 | TCS | W 45–15 | 85,732 | ||
| September 20 | 7:00 p.m. | at Boston College | No. 5 | ESPN | W 26–14 | 42,329 | ||
| September 27 | 1:30 p.m. | East Carolina | No. 7 |
| TCS | W 42–17 | 84,774 | [3] |
| October 4 | 12:20 p.m. | Rutgers | No. 5 |
| TCS | W 31–6 | 84,000 | |
| October 11 | 12:20 p.m. | Cincinnati | No. 5 |
| TCS | W 23–17 | 84,812 | |
| October 18 | 1:30 p.m. | Syracuse | No. 6 |
| TCS | W 42–3 | 85,512 | |
| October 25 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 2 Alabama | No. 6 | ABC | W 23–3 | 60,210 | [4] | |
| November 1 | 7:30 p.m. | at West Virginia | No. 2 | ESPN | W 19–0 | 59,184 | [5] | |
| November 8 | 1:00 p.m. | Maryland | No. 2 |
| TCS | W 17–15 | 85,561 | [6] |
| November 15 | 3:30 p.m. | at Notre Dame | No. 3 | ABC | W 24–19 | 59,075 | ||
| November 22 | 12:20 p.m. | Pittsburgh | No. 2 |
| TCS | W 34–14 | 85,722 | |
| January 2, 1987 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1 Miami (FL) | No. 2 | NBC | W 14–10 | 73,098 | ||
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See also: 1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
AP Poll
More information Pre, Final ...
| Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
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UPI Poll
More information Pre, Final ...
| Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
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Temple
See also: 1986 Temple Owls football team
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 15 |
| #6 Penn State | 21 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
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More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
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Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary (first night game in Beaver Stadium History)
- Date: September 6
- Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 85,732
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Boston College
See also: 1986 Boston College Eagles football team
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #5 Penn State | 9 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 26 |
| Boston College | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
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More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
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Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary
- Date: September 20
- Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 42,329
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, Tim Brando
East Carolina
See also: 1986 East Carolina Pirates football team
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| East Carolina | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 17 |
| #7 Penn State | 14 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 42 |
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More information Game information ...
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East Carolina vs. Penn State – Game summary
- Date: September 27
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,774
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Rutgers
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Rutgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| #5 Penn State | 14 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
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More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
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Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary
- Date: October 4
- Game time: 12:20 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,000
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Cincinnati
See also: 1986 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| #5 Penn State | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 23 |
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More information Game information ...
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Cincinnati vs. Penn State – Game summary
- Date: October 11
- Game time: 12:20 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 84,812
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Syracuse
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| #6 Penn State | 17 | 9 | 21 | 7 | 54 |
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More information Game information ...
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Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary
- Date: October 18
- Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 85,512
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
#2 Alabama
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 Penn State | 0 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 23 |
| #2 Alabama | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
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More information Game information ...
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Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary
- Date: October 25
- Game time: 3:30 PM EDT
- Game attendance: 60,210
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig
West Virginia
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 Penn State | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| West Virginia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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More information Game information ...
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Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary
- Date: November 1
- Game time: 7:30 PM EST
- Game attendance: 59,184
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, Tim Brando
Maryland
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| #2 Penn State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
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More information Game information ...
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Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary
- Date: November 8
- Game time: 1:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 85,651
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
Notre Dame
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3 Penn State | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Notre Dame | 0 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 |
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More information Game information ...
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Penn State vs. Notre Dame – Game summary
- Date: November 15
- Game time: 3:30 PM EST
- Game attendance: 59,075
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig
Pittsburgh
See also: 1986 Pittsburgh Panthers football team
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| #2 Penn State | 10 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 34 |
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More information Game information ...
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Pittsburgh vs. Penn State – Game summary
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 12:20 PM EST
- Game attendance: 85,722
- TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno
#1 Miami (FL) (Sunkist Fiesta Bowl)
See also: 1986 Miami Hurricanes football team and 1987 Fiesta Bowl
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Miami (FL) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| #2 Penn State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
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More information Game information ...
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Miami (FL) vs. Penn State – Game summary
- Date: January 2, 1987
- Game time: 8:00 PM EST
- Game attendance: 73,098
- Referee: Jimmy Harper
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese, Jimmy Cefalo, Ahmad Rashad
More information Players, Coaches ...
| 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL Draft.
More information Round, Pick ...
| Round | Pick | Overall | Name | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 8 | 8 | Shane Conlan | Linebacker | Buffalo Bills |
| 1st | 14 | 14 | D.J. Dozier | Running back | Minnesota Vikings |
| 3rd | 24 | 80 | Tim Manoa | Running back | Cleveland Browns |
| 3rd | 25 | 81 | Steve Smith | Running back | Los Angeles Raiders |
| 4th | 1 | 84 | Don Graham | Linebacker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 5th | 14 | 126 | John Bruno | Punter | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 5th | 20 | 132 | Chris Conlin | Offensive guard | Miami Dolphins |
| 6th | 1 | 141 | Tim Johnson | Defensive end | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 6th | 22 | 162 | Bob White | Defensive line | San Francisco 49ers |
| 8th | 27 | 222 | Dan Morgan | Offensive guard | Denver Broncos |
| 9th | 24 | 247 | Bob Ontko | Linebacker | Indianapolis Colts |
| 10th | 17 | 268 | Sid Lewis | Defensive back | New York Jets |
| 11th | 7 | 286 | Brian Siverling | Tight End | Detroit Lions |
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Radio
More information Flagship station, Play-by-play ...
| Flagship station | Play-by-play | Color commentator | Sideline reporter | Studio host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMAJ AM 1450 | Gil Santos Lanny Frattare |
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- "Penn State Yearly Results (1985–1989)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved July 26, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
- "Paterno frets about easy win". The Times-Tribune. September 28, 1986. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Move over Miami: State bombs Bama". Sunday News. October 27, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Lions' defense stifles W. Virginia". The Daily News. November 2, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Terps wage battle but lose to Penn St". Florence Morning News. November 9, 1986. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.