1974 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1974 Penn State Nittany Lions football Penn State text logo.svg Independent 7 7 10–2 Joe Paterno 9th I formation Jim O'Hora 9th 4–3 Jack Baiorunos Jim Bradley Beaver Stadium Eastern championCotton Bowl champion Cotton Bowl Classic W 41–20 vs. Baylor The 1974 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 10–2 with a win over Baylor in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Penn State played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Schedule 1974 AP Eastern September 14 w 8 Stanford 20 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ABC 24–20 58,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-nittany-lions-survive/181463329/ The Times Nittany Lions survive test, 24–20 September 15, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 l 8 Navy Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 6–7 42,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-navy-shocks-penn/181334406/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Navy shocks Penn State, 7–6 September 22, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 w y 19 Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 27–0 46,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-penn-state-turns/181463412/ The Duluth News Tribune Penn State turns back Iowa 27–0 September 29, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 w y 15 Army Michie Stadium West Point, NY 21–14 41,221 https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-suffolk-edition-penn-st-rally/181333888/ Newsday Penn St. rally tops Army October 6, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 w y 15 Wake Forest Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 55–0 56,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-penn-state-rolls-up-55/139592721/ Sunday Call-Chronicle Penn State rolls up 55–0 win October 13, 1974 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com October 19 w 11 Syracuse Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry 30–14 59,100 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-penn-state-beats-or/181331461/ The Spokesman-Review Penn State beats Orange October 20, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 w y 10 West Virginia Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV rivalry 21–12 34,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/beckley-post-herald-the-raleigh-register/139593209/ Beckley Post-Herald & Register Penn State again October 27, 1974 October 18, 2021 Newspapers.com November 2 w 10 Maryland 15 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA rivalry ABC 24–17 60,125 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-terp-mistakes-give-pen/139575642/ The Baltimore Sun Terp mistakes give Penn State 24–17 victory November 3, 1974 January 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 9 l y 7 NC State Carter Stadium Raleigh, NC 7–12 47,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-pack-stuns-lions-1/139576632/ Winston-Salem Journal & Sentinel Pack stuns Lions 12–7 November 10, 1974 January 25, 2024 Newspapers.com November 16 w 11 Ohio Beaver Stadium University Park, PA 35–16 58,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-state-romps-donchez-st/181463528/ Sunday Call-Chronicle State romps; Donchez stars November 17, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 28 Thursday (Thanksgiving) w y 10 Pittsburgh 18 Three Rivers Stadium Pittsburgh, PA rivalry ABC 31–10 48,895 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-penn-state-roast/181414045/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Penn State roasts Pitt, 31–10 November 29, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1, 1975 Wednesday w y 7 Baylor 12 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl Classic CBS 41–20 67,500–68,500 Campbell Dave Baylor Finds Nittany Lions Hard to Handle: 41-20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald/169417443/ Waco Tribune-Herald Waco, Texas January 2, 1975 1D, 3D April 2, 2025 Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paris-news-bear-dreams-falter-lions/169071518/ The Paris News Bear dreams falter, Lions win, 41–20 January 2, 1975 March 28, 2025 Newspapers.com Cotton Bowl Classics History; 39th Classic, 1975 https://www.cottonbowl.com/sports/classics/roster/39th-classic-1975/231 Cotton Bowl Classic April 2, 2025 Roster 1974 Penn State Nittany Lions f 18 So John Andress QB 16 Jr Dick Barvinchak QB 71 So Brad Benson T y 74 Sr Jeff Bleamer T y 65 So Ron Coder G y 32 Sr Tom Donchez RB y 61 Sr John Nessel G y 72 Jr Tom Rafferty G y 12 Sr Tom Shuman QB y 53 So Kurt Allerman LB y 67 Jr Greg Buttle LB y 66 Sr Chris Devlin LB y 85 Sr Dave Graf DE y 79 Sr Mike Hartenstine DE y 33 Jr James Rosecrans LB y 99 Jr Chris Bahr K y http://www.nittanyanthology.com/74roster.doc *Joe Paterno Dick Anderson Booker Brooks John Chuckran Gregg Ducatte Fran Ganter Jim O'Hora Bob Phillips Jerry Sandusky J. T. White NFL draft Ten Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1975 NFL draft. Round Pick Overall Name Position Team 2nd 5 31 Mike Hartenstine Defensive end Chicago Bears 4th 3 81 John Nessel Offensive guard Atlanta Falcons 4th 24 102 Tom Donchez Running back Buffalo Bills 6th 12 142 Tom Shuman Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals 7th 14 170 Chris Devlin Linebacker Cincinnati Bengals 8th 16 198 Jeff Bleamer Offensive tackle Philadelphia Eagles 9th 15 223 Dan Natale Tight end San Francisco 49ers 10th 22 256 Joe Jackson Linebacker Miami Dolphins 12th 16 312 Greg Murphy Defensive end Pittsburgh Steelers 17th 5 421 Dave Graf Linebacker Cleveland Browns References Penn State Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football seasons Category:Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy seasons Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons Penn State Nittany Lions football Category:Long stubs with short prose