1947 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1947 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State 1948 Cotton Bowl team.jpg 285 Independent 4 9–0–1 Bob Higgins 18th John Nolan John Potsklan New Beaver Field Eastern champion Cotton Bowl Classic T 13–13 vs. SMU The 1947 Penn State Nittany Lions football team was an American football team that represented Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) as an independent during the 1947 college football season. In its 18th season under head coach Bob Higgins, the team compiled an undefeated 9–0–1 record, shut out six opponents, outscored opponents by a total of 332 to 40, and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP Poll. The team was 9–0 during the regular season and played No. 3 SMU to a tie in the 1948 Cotton Bowl Classic.1947 Penn State Nittany Lions Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football February 15, 2019 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/penn-state/1947-schedule.html The team played its home games in New Beaver Field in State College, Pennsylvania. On defense, the team gave up an average of 4.0 points per game, the lowest total among all major college teams during the 1947 season. Schedule 1947 AP September 20 w y Washington State Hersheypark Stadium Hershey, PA 27–6 15,000–16,000 Lions Easily Defeat Washington State, 27 to 6 The Pittsburgh Press Chester L. Smith September 21, 1947 40 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28411615/lions_easily_defeat_washington_state/ Newspapers.com October 4 w Bucknell New Beaver Field State College, PA 54–0 12,294 Nittany Blanks Bucknell, 54-0: Higgins' Reserves Have Field Day The Pittsburgh Press October 5, 1947 29 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28446884/nittany_blanks_bucknell_540_higgins/ Newspapers.com October 11 w y 12 Fordham Polo Grounds New York, NY 75–0 12,000 Penn St., 75-0; Worst Ram Loss The Daily News (New York City) Hy Turkin October 12, 1947 102 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447082/penn_st_750_worst_ram_loss/ Newspapers.com October 18 w y 9 Syracuse New Beaver Field State College, PA rivalry 40–0 16,632–20,000 Penn State Routs Syracuse In Last Three Quarters The Pittsburgh Press October 19, 1947 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447212/penn_state_routs_syracuse_in_last_three/ Newspapers.com October 25 w 9 West Virginia New Beaver Field State College, PA rivalry 21–14 20,313–22,000 Penn State Scores 21-14 Victory Over Mountaineers The Pittsburgh Press Chester L. Smith October 26, 1947 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28415613/penn_state_scores_2114_victory_over/ Newspapers.com November 1 w 7 Colgate New Beaver Field State College, PA 46–0 14,014 Penn State Whips Colgate, 46-0, and Stays Unbeaten The Pittsburgh Press November 2, 1947 36 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28227812/penn_state_whips_colgate_460_and/ Newspapers.com November 8 w y 7 Temple Temple Stadium Philadelphia, PA 7–0 20,000 Temple Loses to State, 7-0 The Philadelphia Inquirer Stan Baumgartner November 9, 1947 S1, S5 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28006696/temple_loses_to_state_70/ Newspapers.com November 15 w y 8 Navy Municipal Stadium Baltimore, MD 20–7 25,000 Penn State Victor Over Navy, 20-7 The Baltimore Sun Stuart B. McIver November 16, 1947 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447439/penn_state_victor_over_navy_207/ Newspapers.com November 22 w y 5 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry 29–0 47,822–53,000 Penn State Finishes Unbeaten With 29-0 Win: Lions Overwhelm Pitt For First Perfect Season Since 1912 The Pittsburgh Press Chester L. Smith November 23, 1947 21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28447639/penn_state_finishes_unbeaten_with_290/ Newspapers.com January 1, 1948 t y 4 SMU 3 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl 13–13 43,000–47,000 SMU, Penn State Deadlock, 13 to 13 in Cotton Bowl The Austin American Tex Maule January 2, 1948 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/28442323/smu_penn_state_deadlock_13_to_13_in/ Newspapers.com Rankings 1947 college football rankings AP 1 10 12 (1) 9 9 (1) 7 (2) 7 (2) 8 (3) 5 (6) 5 (1) 5 4 (1) References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football