1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg 250 Independent 3 3 11–1 Joe Paterno 20th Fran Ganter 2nd Pro-style Jerry Sandusky 9th 4–3 Rogers Alexander Todd Moules Mike Zordich Beaver Stadium Eastern champion Orange Bowl L 10–25 vs. Oklahoma The 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 20th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 11–1. Penn State was invited to the Orange Bowl, where the Nittany Lions lost to Oklahoma. The team played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Schedule 1985 AP Eastern September 7 12:20 p.m. w y 19 Maryland 7 Byrd Stadium College Park, MD rivalry USA 20–18 50,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-nittany-lions-mainta/139966155/ The Courier-Journal Nittany Lions maintain mastery September 8, 1985 January 31, 2024 Newspapers.com September 14 12:20 p.m. w 11 Temple Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 27–25 84,651 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-lions-post-another-2-poin/170216496/ The Daily News Lions post another 2-point win September 15, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 1:30 p.m. w 10 East Carolina Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 17–10 84,266 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72729615/psu-foils-carolina-upset-bid-1710/ The Pittsburgh Press PSU foils Carolina upset bid, 17–10 September 22, 1985 March 5, 2021 Newspapers.com September 28 1:00 p.m. w y 9 Rutgers Giants Stadium East Rutherford, NJ 17–10 54,560 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-penn-states-big-plays-k/170214780/ The Herald-News Penn State's big plays kill Rutgers September 29, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 3:30 p.m. w 8 Alabama 10 rivalry Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ABC 19–17 85,444 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71559218/penn-state-rolls-1917-over-bama/ The Pittsburgh Press Penn State rolls, 19–17, over Bama October 13, 1985 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com October 19 1:30 p.m. w y 6 Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY rivalry 24–20 50,021 https://www.newspapers.com/article/asbury-park-press-penn-state-hurdles-syr/170220317/ Asbury Park Press Penn State hurdles Syracuse October 20, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 3:30 p.m. w y 3 West Virginia Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 27–0 85,534 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-penn-state-blank/139937200/ The Tyler Courier-Times Penn State blanks West Virginia October 27, 1985 January 30, 2024 Newspapers.com November 2 12:30 p.m. w 3 Boston College Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 16–12 82,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-tackles-touchdown-propels-pen/170216239/ The State Tackle's touchdown propels Penn State to 16–12 victory November 3, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 2:00 p.m. w y 2 Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium Cincinnati, OH 31–10 33,528 https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-of-atlantic-city-no-2-penn-state/170219250/ Sunday Press No. 2 Penn State sinks Cincinnati November 10, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 3:30 p.m. w 1 Notre Dame Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 36–6 84,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-no-1-oenn-st-bl/170218725/ Democrat and Chronicle No. 1 Oenn St. blasts Notre Dame, 36–6 November 17, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 7:45 p.m. w y 1 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ESPN 31–0 60,134 https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-perfect-penn-state-plun/170219684/ The Hartford Courant Perfect Penn State plunders Pittsburgh, 31–0 November 24, 1985 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1986 Wednesday 8:00 p.m. l y 1 Oklahoma 3 Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL Orange Bowl NBC 10–25 74,148 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-shreveport-journal-oklahoma-takes-ca/170222533/ The Shreveport Journal Oklahoma takes care of business January 2, 1986 April 13, 2025 Newspapers.com Rankings 1985 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP 0 16 18 19 11 10 9 9 8 6 3 3 2 (15) 1 (44) 1 (46) 1 (49) 1 (47) 1 (47) 3 Coaches 0 16 17 17 9 8 6 7 6 4 2 2 1 (34) 1 (34) 1 (41) 1 (39) 1 (37) 1 (36) 3 Game summaries At Maryland Penn State at Maryland No. 19 Nittany Lions 10 7 3 0 No. 7 Terrapins 0 10 8 0 September 7 Byrd Stadium, College Park, MD 50,750 George Paterno and Stan Savran TCS yes Q1 PSU Zordich 32 yard interception return (Manca kick) PSU 7–0 Q1 PSU Manca 28 yard field goal PSU 10–0 Q2 PSU Williams 2 yard pass from Shaffer (Manca kick) PSU 17–0 Q2 MD Paredes 22 yard field goal PSU 17–3 Q2 MD Badanjek 8 yard run (Paredes kick) PSU 17–10 Q3 MD Badanjek 5 yard run (Knight pass from Henning) MD 18–17 Q3 9:46 PSU Manca 46 yard field goal PSU 20–18 yes 1985 Maryland Terrapins football team Gainesville Sun. 1985 September 8. At Pittsburgh 1985 Pittsburgh Panthers football team Vs. Oklahoma (Orange Bowl) Penn State vs. Oklahoma No. 1 Nittany Lions 7 3 0 0 No. 3 Sooners 0 16 3 6 January 1, 1986 Orange Bowl 74,178 Don Criqui (play-by-play), Bob Trumpy (analyst), Bob Griese (sideline), and Jimmy Cefalo (sideline) NBC yes 1 8:17 PSU Tim Manoa 1-yard run (Massimo Manca kick) PSU 7-0 2 14:35 OU Tim Lashar 26-yard field goal PSU 7-3 2 12:26 OU Keith Jackson 71-yard pass from Jamelle Holieway (Tim Lashar kick) OU 10-7 2 5:20 OU Tim Lashar 31-yard field goal OU 13-7 2 1:49 OU Tim Lashar 21-yard field goal OU 16-7 2 0:01 PSU Massimo Manca 27-yard field goal OU 16-10 3 3:09 OU Tim Lashar 22-yard field goal OU 19-10 4 1:42 OU Lydell Carr 61-yard run (Lashar kick failed) OU 25-10 yes 1986 Orange Bowl 1985 Oklahoma Sooners football team Orange Bowl; Oklahoma Upends Penn State, Stakes Claim to No. 1 https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/02/sports/orange-bowl-oklahoma-upends-penn-state-stakes-claim-to-no-1.html The New York Times January 2, 1986 January 18, 2020 Roster 1985 Penn State Nittany Lions f 9 Jr Mike Alexander Mike Alexander (American football) WR y 74 So Stan Clayton T y 57 Jr Chris Conlin G y 42 So D.J. Dozier RB y 54 Jr Mitch Frerotte G y 27 Jr John Hornyak FB 44 Jr Tim Manoa FB y 59 Jr Dan Morgan Dan Morgan (offensive lineman) G y 56 Jr Keith Radecic C y 6 So Ray Roundtree WR y 14 Jr John Shaffer QB 35 Jr Steve Smith Steve Smith (running back) RB y 32 Fr Blair Thomas RB y 5 Fr Michael Timpson WR y 66 Fr Steve Wisniewski G y 95 Sr Rogers Alexander LB y 31 Jr Shane Conlan LB y 53 Jr Don Graham Don Graham (American football) LB y 22 Jr Ray Isom S y 55 Jr Tim Johnson Tim Johnson (defensive lineman) LB y 43 Sr Mike Zordich DB y 10 Jr Massimo Manca PK y *Joe Paterno Tom Bradley Ron Dickerson Fran Ganter Nick Gasparato Bob Phillips Frank Rocco Joe Sarra Jerry Sandusky Jim Williams NFL draft Three Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1986 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 4th 23 105 Rogers Alexander Linebacker New York Jets 7th 2 168 Bob Williams Tight end Buffalo Bills 9th 14 235 Mike Zordich Defensive back San Diego Chargers References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football