1987 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1987 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg 250 Independent 8–4 Joe Paterno 22nd Fran Ganter 4th Pro-style Jerry Sandusky 11th 4–3 Trey Bauer Marques Henderson Matt Knizner Beaver Stadium Florida Citrus Bowl L 10–35 vs. Clemson The 1987 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 22nd-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 8–4. Penn State was invited to the Florida Citrus Bowl, where the Nittany Lions lost to Clemson. The team played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Schedule 1987 AP Eastern September 5 1:00 p.m. w 11 Bowling Green Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 45–19 84,574 https://www.newspapers.com/article/scrantonian-tribune-lions-give-paterno-2/172086904/ The Scrantonian Lions give Paterno 200th win September 6, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com September 12 8:10 p.m. l 11 Alabama 19 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry CBS 13–24 85,619 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71565719/alabama-rolls-over-penn-state/ The Philadelphia Inquirer Alabama rolls over Penn State September 13, 1987 February 20, 2021 Newspapers.com September 19 1:00 p.m. w 20 Cincinnati Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 41–0 82,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-leader-lions-take-wrath-out-on/172082016/ The Times Leader Lions take wrath out on Cincinnati September 20, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com September 26 7:45 p.m. w y 15 Boston College Sullivan Stadium Foxborough, MA ESPN 27–17 50,267 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-penn-state-tops-boston/172083599/ The Journal News Penn State tops Boston College September 27, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com October 3 1:00 p.m. w 14 Temple Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 27–13 84,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-penn-st-puts-cool/171998085/ The Pittsburgh Press Penn St. puts cool 27–13 end to old tale October 4, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 1:00 p.m. w y 14 Rutgers Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 35–21 85,376 https://www.newspapers.com/article/staten-island-advance-nittany-lions-sing/172085899/ Staten Island Advance Nittany Lions sing same winning tune October 11, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 2:45 p.m. l y 10 Syracuse 13 Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY rivalry CBS 21–48 50,011 https://www.newspapers.com/article/centre-daily-times-orange-crush-lions-4/172087019/ Centre Daily Times Orange crush Lions, 48–21 October 18, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 1:00 p.m. w 18 West Virginia Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 25–21 85,108 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-penn-state-rallies-for/140068500/ The Morning Call Penn State rallies for 25–21 victory November 1, 1987 February 1, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 1:00 p.m. w y 16 Maryland Memorial Stadium Baltimore, MD rivalry 21–16 62,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-penn-state-holds-off-m/140092029/ The Baltimore Sun Penn State holds off Maryland November 8, 1987 February 2, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 7:45 p.m. l y 15 Pittsburgh Pitt Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ESPN 0–10 56,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/sunday-news-states-bowl-plans-go-down-t/172087067/ Sunday News State's bowl plans go down the drain November 15, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 12:00 p.m. w Notre Dame 7 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry CBS 21–20 84,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/york-daily-record-lions-sack-irish-in-se/172086622/ York Daily Record Lions sack Irish in season finale, 21–20 November 22, 1987 May 10, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1988 Friday 12:00 p.m. l y 20 Clemson 14 Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL Florida Citrus Bowl ABC 10–35 53,152 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-clemson-destroys/140072550/ Pensacola News Journal Clemson destroys Penn State, 35–10 January 2, 1988 February 1, 2024 Newspapers.com Game summaries Notre Dame Notre Dame 7 0 7 6 Penn St 7 7 0 7 November 21 Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania 84,000 yes Q1 PSU Greene 10 yard run (Taurasi kick) PSU 7–0 Q1 ND Rice 32 yard run (Gradel kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 PSU Thomas 1 yard run (Etze kick) PSU 14–7 Q3 ND Rice 11 yard run (Gradel kick) Tie 14–14 Q4 PSU Greene 3 yard run (Taurasi kick) PSU 21–14 Q4 ND Johnson 1 yard run (run failed) PSU 21–20 yes Blair Thomas 35 Rush, 214 Yds Gainesville Sun. 1987 Nov 22. Roster 1987 Penn State Nittany Lions f 9 Sr Mike Alexander Mike Alexander (American football) WR y 12 Fr Tom Bill QB 27 Fr Gary Brown Gary Brown (running back) FB y 74 Sr Stan Clayton T y 26 Fr David Daniels David Daniels (American football) WR y 78 So Roger Duffy Roger Duffy (American football) C y 89 Jr Bob Mrosko TE y 88 Sr Paul Pomfret TE 6 Sr Ray Roundtree WR y 79 So Dave Szott OG y 32 So Blair Thomas RB y 5 Jr Michael Timpson WR y 66 Jr Steve Wisniewski G y 72 Sr Mike Wolf C 35 Sr Trey Bauer LB 70 Jr Darryl Bullock NT y 31 So Andre Collins LB y 85 Fr Frank Giannetti DT y 90 Sr Pete Giftopoulos LB y 3 Sr Marques Henderson S 84 Jr Keith Karpinski LB y 92 Jr Quintus McDonald LB y 33 Jr John Sweenely LB 19 Jr Gary Wilkerson CB http://www.nittanyanthology.com/87roster.doc *Joe Paterno Tom Bradley Jim Caldwell Craig Cirbus Chet Fuhrman Ron Dickerson Fran Ganter Nick Gasparato Joe Sarra Jerry Sandusky Paul Shaffner (GA) Jim Williams NFL draft Four Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1988 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 3rd 3 58 Ray Roundtree Wide receiver Detroit Lions 8th 6 199 Mike Alexander Wide receiver Los Angeles Raiders 10th 1 250 Stan Clayton Offensive tackle Atlanta Falcons 11th 11 289 Pete Curkendall Defensive line Buffalo Bills References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football Category:Long stubs with short prose