1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg 250 Independent 1 1 12–0 Joe Paterno 21st Fran Ganter 3rd Pro-style Jerry Sandusky 10th 4–3 Shane Conlan John Shaffer Steve Smith Bob White Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania Consensus national championFiesta Bowl championEastern champion Fiesta Bowl W 14–10 vs. Miami (FL) 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. 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).http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2018/FBS.pdf 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records National Collegiate Athletic Association August 2018 December 10, 2018 114 Schedule 1986 AP Eastern September 6 7:00 p.m. w 6 Temple Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 45–15 85,732 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-owls-are-a-tasty-feast-fo/170679569/ The Daily News Owls are a tasty feast for Nittany Lions September 7, 1986 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com September 20 7:00 p.m. w y 5 Boston College Sullivan Stadium Foxborough, MA ESPN 26–14 42,329 https://www.newspapers.com/article/scrantonian-tribune-dozier-leads-nittany/170682302/ The Scrantonian Dozier leads Nittany Lions past BC, 26–14 September 21, 1986 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com September 27 1:30 p.m. w 7 East Carolina Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 42–17 84,774 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72734947/paterno-frets-about-easy-win/ The Times-Tribune Paterno frets about easy win September 28, 1986 March 5, 2021 Newspapers.com October 4 12:20 p.m. w 5 Rutgers Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 31–6 84,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-register-lions-best-effort/170678091/ The Daily Register Lions' 'best effort' too much for Scarlet Knights October 5, 1986 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 12:20 p.m. w 5 Cincinnati Beaver Stadium University Park, PA TCS 23–17 84,812 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-penn-st-beats-bearcats/170677649/ The Daily News Penn St. beats Bearcats, but it's anything but easy October 12, 1986 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 1:30 p.m. w y 6 Syracuse Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry TCS 42–3 85,512 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-no-6-penn-state-throttles-syr/170675716/ The State No. 6 Penn State throttles Syracuse October 19, 1986 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 3:30 p.m. w y 6 Alabama 2 Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL rivalry ABC 23–3 60,210 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71561921/move-over-miami-state-bombs-bama/ Sunday News Move over Miami: State bombs Bama October 27, 1986 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com November 1 7:30 p.m. w y 2 West Virginia Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry ESPN 19–0 59,184 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-lions-defense-stifles-w/139992324/ The Daily News Lions' defense stifles W. Virginia November 2, 1986 January 31, 2024 Newspapers.com November 8 1:00 p.m. w 2 Maryland Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry TCS 17–15 85,561 https://www.newspapers.com/article/florence-morning-news-terps-wage-battle/140057392/ Florence Morning News Terps wage battle but lose to Penn St. November 9, 1986 February 1, 2024 Newspapers.com November 15 3:30 p.m. w y 3 Notre Dame Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN rivalry ABC 24–19 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-not-enough-luck-for-i/170677025/ Detroit Free Press Not enough luck for Irish November 16, 1986 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 12:20 p.m. w 2 Pittsburgh Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry TCS 34–14 55,338 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-no-1-miami-romps-past/170679167/ The Baltimore Sun No. 1 Miami romps past Pitt, 37–10 November 9, 1986 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com January 2, 1987 Friday 8:00 p.m. w y 2 Miami (FL) 1 Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ Fiesta Bowl NBC 14–10 73,098 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-penn-states-fiesta/170682983/ The Arizona Republic Penn State's Fiesta January 3, 1987 April 19, 2025 Newspapers.com Rankings 1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings AP poll Penn State Nittany Lions 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 UPI Poll Penn State Nittany Lions 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 Game summaries Temple 1986 Temple Owls football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Temple Owls at No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary September 6 7:00 p.m. EDT Owls 0 6 0 9 No. 6 Nittany Lions 21 3 14 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 85,732 TCS Stan Savran, George Paterno At Boston College 1986 Boston College Eagles football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions at Boston College Eagles – Game summary September 20 7:00 p.m. EDT No. 5 Nittany Lions 9 3 7 7 Eagles 0 0 7 7 Sullivan Stadium • Foxborough, Massachusetts 42,329 ESPN Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, Tim Brando East Carolina 1986 East Carolina Pirates football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse East Carolina Pirates at No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary September 27 1:30 p.m. EDT Pirates 0 0 3 14 No. 7 Nittany Lions 14 21 0 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 84,774 TCS Stan Savran and George Paterno Rutgers 1986 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Rutgers Scarlet Knights at No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary October 4 12:20 p.m. EDT Scarlet Knights 0 0 0 6 No. 5 Nittany Lions 14 3 7 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 84,000 TCS Stan Savran and George Paterno Cincinnati 1986 Cincinnati Bearcats football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Cincinnati Bearcats at No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary October 11 12:20 p.m. EDT Bearcats 0 7 7 3 No. 5 Nittany Linos 0 14 0 9 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 84,812 TCS Stan Savran and George Paterno Syracuse 1986 Syracuse Orangemen football team Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Syracuse Orange at No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary October 18 1:30 p.m. EDT Orange 0 0 0 3 No. 6 Nittany Lions 17 9 21 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 85,512 TCS Stan Savran and George Paterno At No. 2 Alabama 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team Alabama–Penn State football rivalry Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide – Game summary October 25 3:30 p.m. EDT / 2:30 p.m. CDT No. 6 Nittany Lions 0 14 3 6 No. 2 Crimson Tide 3 0 0 0 Bryant–Denny Stadium • Tuscaloosa, Alabama 60,210 ABC Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig First Quarter ALA – Van Tiffin 40-yard field goal. Crimson Tide 3–0. Second Quarter PSU – D. J. Dozier 19-yard run (Massima Manca kick). Nittany Lions 7–3. PSU – Blair Thomas 3-yard run (Massima Manca kick). Nittany Lions 14–3. Third Quarter PSU – Massima Manca 37-yard field goal. Nittany Lions 17–3. Fourth Quarter PSU – Massima Manca 29-yard field goal. Nittany Lions 20–3. PSU – Massima Manca 42-yard field goal. Nittany Lions 23–3. At West Virginia 1986 West Virginia Mountaineers football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions at West Virginia Mountaineers – Game summary November 1 7:30 p.m. EST No. 2 Nittany Lions 7 6 6 0 Mountaineers 0 0 0 0 Mountaineer Field • Morgantown, West Virginia 59,184 ESPN Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, and Tim Brando First quarter PSU – D. J. Dozier 23-yard pass from John Shaffer (Massima Manca kick), 10:55. Nittany Lions 7–0. Second quarter PSU – Massima Manca 42-yard field goal, 12:08. Nittany Lions 10–0. PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, 7:59 (PSU 13–0) Third quarter PSU – Massima Manca 22-yard field goal, 6:04. Nittany Lions 16–0. PSU – Massima Manca 27-yard field goal, 3:13. Nittany Lions 19–0. Fourth quarter No scoring plays Maryland 1986 Maryland Terrapins football team Maryland–Penn State football rivalry Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Maryland Terrapins at No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary November 8 1:00 p.m. EST Terrapins 0 0 3 12 No. 2 Nittany Lions 0 7 0 10 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 85,651 TCS Stan Savran and George Paterno First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter PSU – Dozier, 1-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–0) Third quarter MD – Plocki, 18-yard field goal, (PSU 7–3) Fourth quarter PSU – Dozier, 9-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–3) MD – Joines, 16-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 14–9) PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 17–9) MD – Bonato, 27-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 17–15) At Notre Dame 1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions at Notre Dame Fighting Irish – Game summary November 15 3:30 p.m. EST No. 3 Nittany Lions 7 3 7 7 Fighting Irish 0 6 7 6 Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana 59,075 ABC Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, and Al Trautwig Pittsburgh 1986 Pittsburgh Panthers football team Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse Pittsburgh Panthers at No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary November 22 12:20 p.m. EST Panthers 7 0 0 7 No. 2 Nittany Lions 10 7 10 7 Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania 85,722 TCS Stan Savran and George Paterno Vs. No. 1 Miami (FL)—Fiesta Bowl 1986 Miami Hurricanes football team 1987 Fiesta Bowl Penn State Nittany Lions;text-align:center; autocollapse 1987 Fiesta BowlNo. 1 Miami Hurricanes vs. No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions – Game summary January 2, 1987 Friday 8:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. MST No. 1 Hurricanes 0 7 0 3 No. 2 Nittany Lions 0 7 0 7 Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, Arizona 73,098 Jimmy Harper NBC Charlie Jones, Bob Griese, Jimmy Cefalo, Ahmad Rashad First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter MIA – Bratton, 1-yard TD run, Seelig kick good, 6:38 (MIA 7–0) PSU – Shaffer, 4-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 1:14 (TIE 7–7) Third quarter No scoring Fourth quarter MIA – Seelig, 38-yard field goal, 11:49 (MIA 10–7) PSU – Dozier, 6-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 8:13 (PSU 14–10) Roster 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions f 9 Jr Mike Alexander Mike Alexander (American football) WR y 29 Fr Sean Barowski FB 74 Jr Stan Clayton T y 57 Sr Chris Conlin G y 42 Jr D. J. Dozier RB y 78 Fr Roger Duffy Roger Duffy (American football) C y 54 Sr Mitch Frerotte G y 27 Sr John Hornyak FB 44 Sr Tim Manoa FB y 59 Sr Dan Morgan Dan Morgan (offensive lineman) G y 89 So Bob Mrosko TE y 88 Jr Paul Pomfret TE 56 Sr Keith Radecic C y 6 Jr Ray Roundtree WR y 14 Sr John Shaffer QB 91 Sr Brian Siverling TE 35 Sr Steve Smith Steve Smith (running back) RB y 79 Fr Dave Szott G y 32 So Blair Thomas RB y 5 So Michael Timpson WR y 66 So Steve Wisniewski G y 72 Jr Mike Wolf C 35 Jr Trey Bauer LB 70 So Darryl Bullock NT y 16 Sr Duffy Cobbs CB y 43 Fr Andre Collins CB/S y 31 Sr Shane Conlan LB y 90 Jr Pete Giftopoulos LB y 53 Sr Don Graham Don Graham (American football) LB y 2 Jr Stu Helgeson S 3 Jr Marques Henderson H 22 Sr Ray Isom S y 55 Sr Tim Johnson Tim Johnson (defensive lineman) LB y 52 Jr Gregg Johns LB 84 Jr Keith Karpinski LB y 21 Sr Sid Lewis DB y 92 So Quintus McDonald LB y 33 So John Sweenely LB 19 So Gary Wilkerson CB 11 Sr John Bruno John Bruno (American football) P y 10 Sr Massimo Manca PK y 2 Fr Ray Tarasi K 68 Jr Greg Truitt SN y *Joe Paterno Tom Bradley Jim Caldwell Ron Dickerson Chet Fuhrman Fran Ganter Nick Gasparato Bob Phillips Joe Sarra Jerry Sandusky Paul Shaffner (GA) Jim Williams https://web.archive.org/web/20120515191951/http://www.nittanyanthology.com/86roster.doc 2015-12-20 https://www.nittanyanthology.com/Home.html Homehttps://www.libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/491.htm ArchivesSpace Public Interface | Archival Collections April 4, 2017 September 20, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160920165732/https://www.libraries.psu.edu/findingaids/491.htm dead Awards Joe Paterno Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Paul "Bear" Bryant Award NFL draft Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL draft. 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 Media Radio Penn State Nittany Lions Flagship station Play-by-play Color commentator Sideline reporter Studio host WMAJ AM 1450 Gil SantosLanny Frattare References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:College football national champions Category:Fiesta Bowl champion seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football