Excluding the modern undefeated seasons (1968, 1969, 1973, 1986, 1994) and national championship seasons (1982, 1986), with a shoutout to those national championship seasons of 1911 and 1912, (yes they're legit the NCAA recognizes them) and that incredible 9-0-1 1947 team that gave up only 40 points the entire season, which Penn State team was the best of the rest?
Excluding the undefeated and national championship seasons, which Penn State team was the best of the rest?
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1999....on track to play FSU for the national championship until fluky stuff happened against Minnesota. Demoralized they lost their final two games. Then they regrouped and shut out their opponent in the bowl game.
I've griped before that late in the game we punted from the 35 rather than try a FG. I had the chance to ask the kicker years later and he said he would have had total confidence on that kick.
I've griped before that late in the game we punted from the 35 rather than try a FG. I had the chance to ask the kicker years later and he said he would have had total confidence on that kick.
I think the 1985 team was something special... couple of close wins early in season then went on this amazing 2 year 23-1 run. I don't even think they were ranked presason top 25
2005 was a pretty special team too.
Disagree. That 99 team just wasn't very good. Early wins over Zona and at Miami had us believing, but neither of them turned out to be any good.
Very close wins against mediocre Pitt and Purdue teams told the story.
Defense was solid but gave up 4th quarter leads in all three losses. Offense wasn't very good.
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1977 . One loss to Kentucky and played AZ. St. in Fiesta Bowl. Big 8 dodged PSU in Orange.
I'll go with an oft overlooked 1991 team. Damn near knocked off Miami in the old Orange Bowl when that meant something.
42-17 over Tennessee in the Fiesta
42-17 over Tennessee in the Fiesta
Mike Robinson was my favorite player. 2005 is special for me too.
Warner leg cramps, J. Williams fumbled with no one in front of him from Miami's 10 yd. line.
That was a special team, 2005. Mike Robinson leading PSU’s final drive in Ann Arbor is one of my favorite memories, a drive for the ages.
I was at that game. A young Michigan fan asked me why don’t we just run QB draw from spread every play.
Lot's of talent on that team could have hung with Texas or USC, got hosed in Ann Arbor with 2 seconds added to the clock.
Meh. That team totally collapsed. Shouldn’t have happened. Too much talent to lose 3 in a row to end the season, but they did have their deficiencies. The fluky stuff you speak of was a certain safety getting burned deep to set up the game winning field goal. He tended to get burnt frequently.
2016 team got better every week. They were peaking at the right time. I think if they got into the playoff they could have hung with anyone. PSU and USC were the two hottest teams at the end of the year.
Poz was mine. I’ll agree, 2005 was a lot of fun. I was at the Ohio State game. I still say that was my favorite game I was ever at. The loudest also.
If there was a playoff, the 1981 team would have run the table.
'77 better than '78
'81 better than '82
'08 better than '05 (but not by much)
2016 better than 2017 (by a nose)