The Penn State Nittany Lions is the college football team of the Pennsylvania State University under NCAA Division I. A notable member of the Big Ten Conference, the team has completed 131 college football seasons, as of January 2025 since their first season in 1889. The team plays at Beaver Stadium as their home for college football games.
The Penn State Nittany Lions have rivalries with other teams like the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Michigan Wolverines, the Maryland Terrapins, the Michigan State Spartans, and the Syracuse Orange among other teams. Since their first season in 1889, the team has also competed in 53 bowl games, as of January 2025.
How many National Championships has Penn State won?
The Penn State Nittany Lions have won two National championships as of January 2025, as per USA Today. The years in which the team won these championships are 1982 and 1986.
Read More:- Penn State Nittany Lions Bowl Record
When was the last time Penn State won the National Championships?
The Penn State Nittany Lions last won the national championship in 1986 as per USA Today and the NY Times. They won the championship by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 14-10 during the Fiesta Bowl game of the year.
Penn State National Championship-winning years
The following table displays the years in which the Penn State Nittany Lions won the national championship, as of January 2025 -
| Year | Vs Team | Score |
| 1982 | Georgia Bulldogs | 27-23 |
| 1986 | Miami Hurricanes | 14-10 |
Penn State National Championship Appearances
The Penn State Nittany Lions have appeared twice in the national championship games. The Nittany Lions claimed the National Championship in 1982 and 1986, respectively.
Penn State Conference Title Wins
The Penn State Nittany Lions have won four conference titles in their career, as of January 2025. They won the titles in 1994, 2005, 2008 under coach Joe Paterno and 2016 under coach James Franklin.
Penn State Division Title Wins
The Penn State Nittany Lions belong in the East division of the Big Ten Conference as of January 2025. They have also won the division titles twice, namely in 2011 and 2016. The following table details the years in which the team won the title-
| Season | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG Result |
| 2011 | FBS | Joe Paterno | Michigan State | 45-12 |
| 2016 | FBS | James Franklin | Wisconsin | 38-31 |
FAQs on Penn State Nittany Lions
A. Penn State joined the Big Ten Conference in 1993.
A. Penn State competes in the Big Ten Conference.
A. Penn State plays its home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.
A. The Nittany Lions' official team colors are blue and white.
A. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Miami Hurricanes in the 1986 national championship game.
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