Rivalries

updated November 21, 2009

Current rivalries

Penn State competes for two rivalry trophies, both introduced when the Nittany Lions began Big Ten football in 1993.

Minnesota

Since 1993, Penn State annually plays Minnesota for the Governor’s Victory Bell. Penn State is 7-4 against the Golden Gophers in this series and holds possession of the trophy for the third game in a row.

Iowa

Since Penn State began playing in the conference, the Nittany Lions are a lowly 5-8 in conference play against the team from Iowa City.  In 2008 and again in 2009, a Hawkeye victory cost the Nittany Lions a chance of an undefeated season.  In 2008, this loss most likely cost the Nittany Lions a chance to play for the national championship.

Michigan State

Since 1993, Penn State annually plays Michigan State for the Land Grant Trophy. Penn State has a 13-4 record in these trophy games and currently holds possession of the trophy after winning the 2008 and 2009 contests.

Ohio State

Ohio State and Penn State first played in 1912, but until 1993 when Penn State joined the Big Ten conference, the meetings were infrequent. Including their last non-conference meeting in the 1980 Fiesta Bowl, the series was 6-2 in favor of Penn State before the Big Ten established the two teams as designated conference rivals playing annually starting in 1993. The overall series is currently 13-12  Ohio State and 6-11 in conference play.

Penn State is 5-8 at Ohio Stadium (the 1912 game was played at its predecessor, Ohio Field) after a 13-6 win in 2008, breaking a seven-game away losing streak at Ohio Stadium. Penn State is 5-5 against Ohio State in Beaver Stadium, including a memorable come-from-behind win in 2001 to give Joe Paterno his 324th win, passing Bear Bryant for the lead in career victories among major college coaches.

At least two meetings have determined the conference champion. Of the 24 games they played, 9 have been determined by 7 points or less, 14 games by 14 points or less. Penn State has shut out Ohio State three times but all occurred prior to Penn State joining the Big Ten, while Ohio State has never held Penn State below six points. Due to the nature of the rivalry, a large number of games between the two teams are night games.

Syracuse

With the exception of 1943, Penn State and Syracuse played every year from 1922 through 1990. However, the rivalry became dormant when Syracuse joined the Big East Conference and Penn State joined the Big Ten.

The rivalry was briefly renewed when the teams agreed to a two-game home-and-home series for 2008 and 2009. Penn State holds a 42-23-5 record in this series, after defeating Syracuse 55-13 in the Carrier Dome in 2008 and at Beaver Stadium in 2009, 28-7.

Temple

Penn State has been playing Temple frequently since 1931. Temple has not beaten Penn State since 1941, and Penn State holds a 35-3-1 record in the series, after defeating Temple 31-6 in Beaver Stadium in 2009. The current series will continue every season through at least 2012.

Dormant rivalries

Pittsburgh

The Pennsylvania Classic is a currently dormant series between in-state rivals Penn State and Pittsburgh. Once considered the fiercest and most important college football rivalry north of the Mason-Dixon line, this rivalry was first played in 1893 when Penn State won 32-0. The most recent game in the series was played in 2000 with Pitt winning 12-0 over Penn State at Three Rivers Stadium. Penn State holds a 50-42-4 record in the series.

Notre Dame

Penn State and Notre Dame first met in 1913 and played each other in 1925, 1926 and 1928. The two teams would not meet again until the 1976 Gator Bowl which Notre Dame won 20-9.

The series from 1981 through 1992 put the rivalry into focus on a national level. At the time, Penn State and Notre Dame were two of the few remaining Independent teams remaining in Division I FBS. It was also a very successful time for both programs, with Notre Dame winning a National Championship in 1988 and Penn State crowned National Champions in 1982 and 1986. In the 12-game series, Penn State held a 8-4-0 advantage including a 1990 win at Notre Dame Stadium where Penn State knocked off top-ranked Notre Dame with a last second field goal.

The rivalry was briefly renewed with a home-and-home series in 2006 and 2007. Penn State evened the series to 9-9-1, after defeating Notre Dame 31-10 at Beaver Stadium in 2007.

West Virginia

First played in 1904, Penn State and West Virginia played every year from 1947 to 1992. The rivalry has been dormant since Penn State joined the Big Ten. Penn State leads the series 48-9-2.

Maryland

This lop-sided rivalry was first played in 1917, and all but three years between 1960 and 1993, but has remained inactive since. As recently as October 2008, there have been inconclusive negotiations between the schools for a revival. Penn State has a commanding 35-1-1 lead in the series.