1972 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1972 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg Independent 8 10 10–2 Joe Paterno 7th I formation Jim O'Hora 7th 4–3 Gregg Ducatte Jim Heller John Hufnagel Carl Schaukowitch Beaver Stadium Eastern champion Sugar Bowl L 0–14 vs. Oklahoma The 1972 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 10–2 and lost to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. Penn State was the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best college football team in the Eastern United States. The team played home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. As a result of using ineligible players, the Oklahoma Sooners were ordered to forfeit seven wins from their 1972 season, including their win over the Nittany Lions in the Sugar Bowl. However, Paterno and Penn State refused to accept the forfeit, and the bowl game is officially recorded as a loss.After Further Review... The NCAA Weighs-In http://www.wjla.com/blogs/sports/after_further_review..._the_ncaa_weighs-in_on_bowden_and_paterno.html January 11, 2008 November 4, 2008 ABC 7 News Tim Brant September 30, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080930213747/http://www.wjla.com/blogs/sports/after_further_review..._the_ncaa_weighs-in_on_bowden_and_paterno.html dead Schedule 1972 AP Eastern September 16 l y 6 Tennessee 7 Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN 21–28 71,647 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101341175/undefeated-season-ends-early-for-state/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Undefeated season ends early for State September 17, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com September 23 1:30 p.m. w 11 Navy Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 21–10 50,457 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-penn-state-rally-beats/181873327/ The Houston Post Penn State rally beats Navy, 21–10 September 24, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com September 30 w 13 Iowa Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 14–10 58,065 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-eagle-penn-state-gets-by-iow/181878858/ The Wichita Eagle & Beacon Penn State gets by Iowa October 1, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 7 w y 16 Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 35–17 60,394 https://www.newspapers.com/article/jacksonville-journal-courier-penn-state/181878976/ Jacksonville Journal Courier Penn State bursts to top Illini 35–17 October 8, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 14 1:59 p.m. w y 15 Army Michie Stadium West Point, NY 45–0 42,352 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-hufnagel-gears-penn-st/181876096/ The Miami Herald Hufnagel gears Penn St. attack, routs Army, 45–0 October 15, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 21 w y 12 Syracuse Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 17–0 60,465 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-penn-state-tops-syr/181875604/ The Sacramento Union Penn State tops Syracuse, 17–0 October 22, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com October 28 w y 11 West Virginia T–18 Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry ABC 28–19 37,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-penn-st-rallies-to-n/139505344/ The Sacramento Bee Penn St. rallies to nip WVa. October 29, 1972 January 24, 2024 Newspapers.com November 4 w 10 Maryland Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 46–16 58,171 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-penn-st-rips-terp/139538496/ The News and Observer Penn St. rips Terps, 46–16 November 5, 1972 January 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w 10 NC State Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 37–22 54,274 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-penn-state-mauls-n/139507258/ The Pittsburgh Press Penn State mauls N.C. State November 12, 1972 January 24, 2024 Newspapers.com Penn State Halts Wolfpack https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-asheville-times/139595960/ Asheville Citizen-Times Asheville, North Carolina Associated Press November 12, 1972 2B January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com November 18 w y 6 Boston College Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA 45–26 23,119 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-penn-state-survive/181874544/ The News and Observer Penn State survives Boston College scare November 19, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com November 25 w 6 Pittsburgh Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 49–27 38,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-penn-state-manhandl/181870830/ The Pittsburgh Press Penn State manhandles Pitt, 49–27 November 26, 1972 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com December 31 Sunday l y 5 Oklahoma 2 Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 0–14 80,123 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-sooners-tinker-with-pe/181878729/ Chicago Tribune Sooners 'Tinker' with Penn State Lions 14–0 January 1, 1973 September 27, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1972 Penn State) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/251691 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics September 27, 2025 Rankings 1972 NCAA University Division football rankings AP 0 14 5 6 (1) 11 13 16 15 12 11 10 10 6 6 5 5 10 Coaches 0 13 6 7 14 т 16 19 17 13 10 11 11 8 7 7 8 Roster 1972 Penn State Nittany Lions f 74 So Jeff Bleamer T y 50 Sr Rick Brown C 22 Jr John Cappelletti RB y 77 Jr Charlie Getty T y 28 Jr Gary Hayman WR y 16 Sr John Hufnagel QB y 51 So Bill Johnson William D. Johnson (CEO) C y 65 Jr Phil LaPorta T y 54 Jr Mark Markovich C y 69 Sr Carl Schaukowitch G y 68 Jr Doug Allen Doug Allen (American football) LB y 83 Sr Bruce Bannon DE y 53 Jr Randy Crowder DT y 66 So Chris Devlin LB y 85 So Dave Graf DE y 79 So Mike Hartenstine DT y 41 Jr Tom Hull Tom Hull (American football) LB y 47 Sr Jim Laslavic LB y 89 Jr Ed O'Neil Ed O'Neil (American football) LB y 81 Sr John Skorupan LB y http://www.nittanyanthology.com/72roster.doc *Joe Paterno Booker Brooks John Chuckran Jim O'Hora Frank Patrick Bob Phillips Jerry Sandusky Jim Weaver George Welsh J. T. White Awards Joe Paterno Walter Camp Coach of the Year NFL draft Five Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1973 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 3rd 19 71 Jim Laslavic Linebacker Detroit Lions 5th 12 116 Bruce Bannon Linebacker New York Jets 6th 6 136 John Skorupan Linebacker Buffalo Bills 14th 10 348 John Hufnagel Quarterback Denver Broncos 15th 17 381 Carl Schaukowitch Offensive guard New York Giants References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football