What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

[saturdaysarebetter]

What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football? There are those that feel nothing less than a national championship is satisfactory. I place those morons with unrealistic expectations on ignore immediately. Is it a NY 6 Bowl game? A NY 6 bowl win? A Big 10 Championship? A top-10 ranking? Beating Ohio State? A 10-win season? Making the college football playoff? Making it to the Big 10 Championship Game? A combination of the aforementioned?

To me, it's been a 10-win season with a NY6 bowl game and even more so with a NY6 bowl win, and beginning in 2024, to me it's now a 10-win season and making the college football playoff. Sign me up for that every year.

Which schools had the most good years (10 wins & a bowl game win (not necessarily NY6) or playoff win) since 1950? And before you think that sounds easy, keep in mind there have been 74 football seasons played since 1950.

27 – Alabama (’52, ’61, ’62, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’86, ’91, ’92, 94, ’96, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ‘23) not including ’93 and ’05 both vacated.

20 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’71, ’80, ’83, ’92, ’97, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

20 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’99, ’05, ’09, ’17, ’19, ‘22)

19 – Oklahoma (’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’86, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’10, ’11, ’13, 16, ’21) (’54 & ’56 consecutive bowl appearances prohibited by conference.)

17 – Florida State (’77, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’10, ’12, ’13, ’16, ‘22)

17 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’13, ’16)

15 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’80, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’03, ’09)

16 – Ohio State (’54, ’68, ’73, ’86, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21)

15 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’69, ’72, ’75, ’81, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’18)

14 – Clemson (’78, ’81, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’21)

14 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’87, ’96, ’01, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’10, ’13, ’18. ’19, ’22, ‘23)

13 – Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘23)

13 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’87, ’89, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’01, ’04, ’07, ‘22)

12 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Florida (’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’01, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’18, ’19)

10 – Oregon (’00, ’01, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’19, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’99, ’05, ’06, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17)

9 – Auburn (’72, ’74, ’83, ’86, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’06, ’10)

9 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’01, ’03)

9 – Michigan (’80, ’85, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02, ’11, ’15, ‘23)

7 – UCLA (’82, ’87, ’88, ’97, ’05, ’13, ’14)

Care to toughen up the criteria?
Which schools had the most very good years (1 loss or less & a major bowl game or playoff win) since 1950?

18 – Alabama (’61, ’62, ’65, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’92, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’21)

12 – Oklahoma (’53, ’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’83, ’86, ’00)

(’54 and ’56 could not make consecutive bowl appearance as conference champion.)

12 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’03, ’04, ’08)

11 – Ohio State (’54, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’20)

(’61 opted not to go to Rose Bowl and in ’10 wins were vacated)

10 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’81, ’04, ’05, ’08)

9 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’81, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ‘23)

8 – Florida State (’87, ’88, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’99, ’13)

8 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’80, ’83, ’02, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

8 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’82, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99)

8 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’82, ’86, ’94, ’05)

7 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’00, ’01)

7- Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’92, ’93)

(’53 and ’66 Notre Dame chose to not go to a bowl game)

6 – Clemson (’50, ’81, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’ 19)

5 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’62, ’03, ’19)

5 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’85, ’89, ’98)

4 – Auburn (’83, ’87* tie in Sugar Bowl, ’04, ’10)

4 – Florida (’96, ’06, ’08, ’09)

4 – Michigan (’64, ’92, ’97, ‘23)

3 – Arkansas (’64, ’68, ’77)

3 – Michigan State (’53, ’55, ’13)

(’66 could not go to the Rose Bowl consecutive years as conference champion.)

3 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’17)

So what criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

 

[bdgan]

Good year would be a college football playoff and at least 1 win.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

First round playoff win and beat USC

 

[Midnighter]

What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football? There are those that feel nothing less than a national championship is satisfactory. I place those morons with unrealistic expectations on ignore immediately. Is it a NY 6 Bowl game? A NY 6 bowl win? A Big 10 Championship? A top-10 ranking? Beating Ohio State? A 10-win season? Making the college football playoff? Making it to the Big 10 Championship Game? A combination of the aforementioned?

To me, it's been a 10-win season with a NY6 bowl game and even more so with a NY6 bowl win, and beginning in 2024, to me it's now a 10-win season and making the college football playoff. Sign me up for that every year.

Which schools had the most good years (10 wins & a bowl game win (not necessarily NY6) or playoff win) since 1950? And before you think that sounds easy, keep in mind there have been 74 football seasons played since 1950.

27 – Alabama (’52, ’61, ’62, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’86, ’91, ’92, 94, ’96, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ‘23) not including ’93 and ’05 both vacated.

20 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’71, ’80, ’83, ’92, ’97, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

20 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’99, ’05, ’09, ’17, ’19, ‘22)

19 – Oklahoma (’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’86, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’10, ’11, ’13, 16, ’21) (’54 & ’56 consecutive bowl appearances prohibited by conference.)

17 – Florida State (’77, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’10, ’12, ’13, ’16, ‘22)

17 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’13, ’16)

15 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’80, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’03, ’09)

16 – Ohio State (’54, ’68, ’73, ’86, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21)

15 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’69, ’72, ’75, ’81, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’18)

14 – Clemson (’78, ’81, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’21)

14 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’87, ’96, ’01, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’10, ’13, ’18. ’19, ’22, ‘23)

13 – Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘23)

13 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’87, ’89, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’01, ’04, ’07, ‘22)

12 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Florida (’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’01, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’18, ’19)

10 – Oregon (’00, ’01, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’19, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’99, ’05, ’06, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17)

9 – Auburn (’72, ’74, ’83, ’86, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’06, ’10)

9 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’01, ’03)

9 – Michigan (’80, ’85, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02, ’11, ’15, ‘23)

7 – UCLA (’82, ’87, ’88, ’97, ’05, ’13, ’14)

Care to toughen up the criteria?
Which schools had the most very good years (1 loss or less & a major bowl game or playoff win) since 1950?

18 – Alabama (’61, ’62, ’65, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’92, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’21)

12 – Oklahoma (’53, ’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’83, ’86, ’00)

(’54 and ’56 could not make consecutive bowl appearance as conference champion.)

12 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’03, ’04, ’08)

11 – Ohio State (’54, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’20)

(’61 opted not to go to Rose Bowl and in ’10 wins were vacated)

10 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’81, ’04, ’05, ’08)

9 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’81, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ‘23)

8 – Florida State (’87, ’88, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’99, ’13)

8 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’80, ’83, ’02, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

8 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’82, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99)

8 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’82, ’86, ’94, ’05)

7 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’00, ’01)

7- Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’92, ’93)

(’53 and ’66 Notre Dame chose to not go to a bowl game)

6 – Clemson (’50, ’81, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’ 19)

5 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’62, ’03, ’19)

5 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’85, ’89, ’98)

4 – Auburn (’83, ’87* tie in Sugar Bowl, ’04, ’10)

4 – Florida (’96, ’06, ’08, ’09)

4 – Michigan (’64, ’92, ’97, ‘23)

3 – Arkansas (’64, ’68, ’77)

3 – Michigan State (’53, ’55, ’13)

(’66 could not go to the Rose Bowl consecutive years as conference champion.)

3 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’17)

So what criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

Double digit wins and you get one against a big time rival (OSU, Michigan). You have ‘good’ losses if you have to lose. Win the bowl and or at least one playoff game (making it the first time is enough for this year). Have an All American or two and maybe someone in the Heisman conversation. Don’t be forced to fire yet another incompetent OC.

 

[s1uggo72]

12-0 NC

 

[fairgambit]

Since I have stopped caring about results, I would say the year we have the hottest female cheerleaders in the BigTen. Recruit some 5 star gals from California and Florida. Go into the portal and lure away some hotties from the SEC and cheer factories like USC. Get some serious NIL money involved. Get the hottest girls and 5 star players will follow. Yes. I am serious.

 

[Nitt1300]

10 wins, same as it's always been

 

[BobPSU92]

 

[BobPSU92]

12-0 NC

That happens almost every year. How about we be original? Let’s stand out from the rest.

 

[blion72]

Good year would be a college football playoff and at least 1 win.

same as what I would say. baseline is making playoff

 

[Nittany1865Farmer]

A good year would be double-digit wins, beat USC and at the least OSU or Michigan and not have a game in which we are comfortably ahead for three quarters and then totally shat the bed and lose the game in the fourth quarter due to bad clock management or very questionable play-calling by the sidelines..... I know that is asking a lot, but we deserve to get the breaks sometimes!

 

[razpsu]

10 wins are not what they were years ago due to more games. So,

11 wins or more seasons. That is the criteria.
May soon be 12 as 12 team playoffs are here. 17? Would be required to win it all?

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football? There are those that feel nothing less than a national championship is satisfactory. I place those morons with unrealistic expectations on ignore immediately. Is it a NY 6 Bowl game? A NY 6 bowl win? A Big 10 Championship? A top-10 ranking? Beating Ohio State? A 10-win season? Making the college football playoff? Making it to the Big 10 Championship Game? A combination of the aforementioned?

To me, it's been a 10-win season with a NY6 bowl game and even more so with a NY6 bowl win, and beginning in 2024, to me it's now a 10-win season and making the college football playoff. Sign me up for that every year.

Which schools had the most good years (10 wins & a bowl game win (not necessarily NY6) or playoff win) since 1950? And before you think that sounds easy, keep in mind there have been 74 football seasons played since 1950.

27 – Alabama (’52, ’61, ’62, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’86, ’91, ’92, 94, ’96, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ‘23) not including ’93 and ’05 both vacated.

20 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’71, ’80, ’83, ’92, ’97, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

20 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’99, ’05, ’09, ’17, ’19, ‘22)

19 – Oklahoma (’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’86, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’10, ’11, ’13, 16, ’21) (’54 & ’56 consecutive bowl appearances prohibited by conference.)

17 – Florida State (’77, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’10, ’12, ’13, ’16, ‘22)

17 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’13, ’16)

15 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’80, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’03, ’09)

16 – Ohio State (’54, ’68, ’73, ’86, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21)

15 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’69, ’72, ’75, ’81, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’18)

14 – Clemson (’78, ’81, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’21)

14 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’87, ’96, ’01, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’10, ’13, ’18. ’19, ’22, ‘23)

13 – Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘23)

13 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’87, ’89, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’01, ’04, ’07, ‘22)

12 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Florida (’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’01, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’18, ’19)

10 – Oregon (’00, ’01, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’19, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’99, ’05, ’06, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17)

9 – Auburn (’72, ’74, ’83, ’86, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’06, ’10)

9 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’01, ’03)

9 – Michigan (’80, ’85, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02, ’11, ’15, ‘23)

7 – UCLA (’82, ’87, ’88, ’97, ’05, ’13, ’14)

Care to toughen up the criteria?
Which schools had the most very good years (1 loss or less & a major bowl game or playoff win) since 1950?

18 – Alabama (’61, ’62, ’65, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’92, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’21)

12 – Oklahoma (’53, ’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’83, ’86, ’00)

(’54 and ’56 could not make consecutive bowl appearance as conference champion.)

12 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’03, ’04, ’08)

11 – Ohio State (’54, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’20)

(’61 opted not to go to Rose Bowl and in ’10 wins were vacated)

10 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’81, ’04, ’05, ’08)

9 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’81, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ‘23)

8 – Florida State (’87, ’88, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’99, ’13)

8 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’80, ’83, ’02, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

8 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’82, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99)

8 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’82, ’86, ’94, ’05)

7 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’00, ’01)

7- Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’92, ’93)

(’53 and ’66 Notre Dame chose to not go to a bowl game)

6 – Clemson (’50, ’81, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’ 19)

5 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’62, ’03, ’19)

5 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’85, ’89, ’98)

4 – Auburn (’83, ’87* tie in Sugar Bowl, ’04, ’10)

4 – Florida (’96, ’06, ’08, ’09)

4 – Michigan (’64, ’92, ’97, ‘23)

3 – Arkansas (’64, ’68, ’77)

3 – Michigan State (’53, ’55, ’13)

(’66 could not go to the Rose Bowl consecutive years as conference champion.)

3 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’17)

So what criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

It would take me a year to read this post!

 

[CDLionFL]

For me, the goalposts moved as the years went on and the game evolved.

Prior to the Big Ten -- Double digit wins, beat Pitt, NYD bowl game

Big Ten prior to BCS -- win the conference was the big goal, beating at least one of OSU & Michigan would be a solid year

Big Ten with the BCS -- NYD bowl game, beat at least one of OSU/Michigan

Dark Years -- finish .500

2005-2008 -- get back to respectability and win bowl games

2009-sanctions -- win the conference and beat those two clowns

Sanctions -- win as many games as possible to piss off the establishment

Post-sanctions-2016 -- 8 wins, a good bowl game, pick off OSU and/or Michigan

2017-now -- make it to Indy was the biggest goal and if not that, win an NY6 game

Now -- Make the playoff

I think you will see a lot more coach turnover across the power 5 conferences if a team goes more than 3 (maybe even 2) seasons without making it into the playoff. While that may be some unreasonable expectations, we've certainly seen how crazy various fanbases will get.

 

[GrimReaper]

For me, the goalposts moved as the years went on and the game evolved.

Prior to the Big Ten -- Double digit wins, beat Pitt, NYD bowl game

Big Ten prior to BCS -- win the conference was the big goal, beating at least one of OSU & Michigan would be a solid year

Big Ten with the BCS -- NYD bowl game, beat at least one of OSU/Michigan

Dark Years -- finish .500

2005-2008 -- get back to respectability and win bowl games

2009-sanctions -- win the conference and beat those two clowns

Sanctions -- win as many games as possible to piss off the establishment

Post-sanctions-2016 -- 8 wins, a good bowl game, pick off OSU and/or Michigan

2017-now -- make it to Indy was the biggest goal and if not that, win an NY6 game

Now -- Make the playoff

I think you will see a lot more coach turnover across the power 5 conferences if a team goes more than 3 (maybe even 2) seasons without making it into the playoff. While that may be some unreasonable expectations, we've certainly seen how crazy various fanbases will get.

FWIW, making the playoffs now is akin to making an NY6 bowl.

 

[LaJollaCreek]

10 wins, same as it's always been

Whoah now the wins only count versus top 5 teams. TIC. 10 wins will work and get PSU into the postseason.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

It would take me a year to read this post!

It's the off-season you have time. Evelyn Wood perhaps?

 

[Bkmtnittany1]

It's the off-season you have time. Evelyn Wood perhaps?

Is she good lookin’?

 

[ChandlerPearce58]

I want quality play....no blowout losses...no major injuries...no player arrests....and make the playoffs. I will add that i agree with other posters that NIL is making the "bagman" payouts legal and PSU does not have that perfected thus coaching up the 3* and 4* players is critical....we cannot afford coaching hire misses

 

[CDLionFL]

FWIW, making the playoffs now is akin to making an NY6 bowl.

Maybe so but now it means a ton more (apologies to the SEC) because instead of opting out of the Peach Bowl, the whole roster will be available to try to win the whole thing.

 

[GrimReaper]

Maybe so but now it means a ton more (apologies to the SEC) because instead of opting out of the Peach Bowl, the whole roster will be available to try to win the whole thing.

In terms of seasonal accomplishment, which was the question posed by the OP, making the playoff is no different than making a NY6 bowl. What takes place afterward is another measure. Will be interesting to see the decisions that players make when they come to grips with the prospect
of playing 3-4 post-season games as opposed to 2.

 

[Nitknee]

I grade all our teams on Big Ten Championships. If they win season or tournament, it’s a great year! If not, it’s an average season or worse.

 

[Nitt1300]

I grade all our teams on Big Ten Championships. If they win season or tournament, it’s a great year! If not, it’s an average season or worse.

so since 1993 we've had four decent seasons- four

 

[Nitknee]

so since 1993 we've had four decent seasons- four

 

[Nitknee]

I said great seasons are winning the Big Ten Championships that’s what I judge our teams by. A lot of good wins and fun times in between but not much of a fan on participation awards.
Still buy my Club Seats and go to Bowl games but if you want to know how I judge our teams performance it’s by winning something that matters.
Maybe it’s because I’m surrounded by Big Ten people living in the Midwest, don’t win many arguments out here being 3rd in the conference every year!

 

[pap]

What criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football? There are those that feel nothing less than a national championship is satisfactory. I place those morons with unrealistic expectations on ignore immediately. Is it a NY 6 Bowl game? A NY 6 bowl win? A Big 10 Championship? A top-10 ranking? Beating Ohio State? A 10-win season? Making the college football playoff? Making it to the Big 10 Championship Game? A combination of the aforementioned?

To me, it's been a 10-win season with a NY6 bowl game and even more so with a NY6 bowl win, and beginning in 2024, to me it's now a 10-win season and making the college football playoff. Sign me up for that every year.

Which schools had the most good years (10 wins & a bowl game win (not necessarily NY6) or playoff win) since 1950? And before you think that sounds easy, keep in mind there have been 74 football seasons played since 1950.

27 – Alabama (’52, ’61, ’62, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’86, ’91, ’92, 94, ’96, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20, ’21, ’22, ‘23) not including ’93 and ’05 both vacated.

20 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’71, ’80, ’83, ’92, ’97, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’19, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

20 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’86, ’91, ’93, ’94, ’96, ’99, ’05, ’09, ’17, ’19, ‘22)

19 – Oklahoma (’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’85, ’86, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’10, ’11, ’13, 16, ’21) (’54 & ’56 consecutive bowl appearances prohibited by conference.)

17 – Florida State (’77, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99, ’10, ’12, ’13, ’16, ‘22)

17 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’13, ’16)

15 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’80, ’82, ’84, ’86, ’94, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’99, ’00, ’03, ’09)

16 – Ohio State (’54, ’68, ’73, ’86, ’93, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’17, ’18, ’21)

15 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’69, ’72, ’75, ’81, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’18)

14 – Clemson (’78, ’81, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’19, ’21)

14 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’87, ’96, ’01, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’10, ’13, ’18. ’19, ’22, ‘23)

13 – Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’74, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’15, ’17, ’19, ‘23)

13 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’71, ’72, ’87, ’89, ’95, ’96, ’98, ’01, ’04, ’07, ‘22)

12 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’79, ’81, ’82, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Florida (’93, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’01, ’06, ’08, ’09, ’18, ’19)

10 – Oregon (’00, ’01, ’08, ’11, ’12, ’13, ’14, ’19, ’22, ‘23)

10 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’99, ’05, ’06, ’09, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17)

9 – Auburn (’72, ’74, ’83, ’86, ’89, ’97, ’04, ’06, ’10)

9 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’00, ’01, ’03)

9 – Michigan (’80, ’85, ’97, ’98, ’99, ’02, ’11, ’15, ‘23)

7 – UCLA (’82, ’87, ’88, ’97, ’05, ’13, ’14)

Care to toughen up the criteria?
Which schools had the most very good years (1 loss or less & a major bowl game or playoff win) since 1950?

18 – Alabama (’61, ’62, ’65, ’66, ’75, ’77, ’78, ’79, ’92, ’09, ’11, ’12, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18, ’20, ’21)

12 – Oklahoma (’53, ’55, ’57, ’58, ’67, ’71, ’75, ’78, ’79, ’83, ’86, ’00)

(’54 and ’56 could not make consecutive bowl appearance as conference champion.)

12 – USC (’52, ’62, ’67, ’69, ’72, ’74, ’76, ’78, ’79, ’03, ’04, ’08)

11 – Ohio State (’54, ’57, ’68, ’73, ’96, ’98, ’02, ’14, ’15, ’18, ’20)

(’61 opted not to go to Rose Bowl and in ’10 wins were vacated)

10 – Texas (’61, ’63, ’64, ’68, ’69, ’72, ’81, ’04, ’05, ’08)

9 – Washington (’59, ’60, ’77, ’81, ’84, ’90, ’91, ’00, ‘23)

8 – Florida State (’87, ’88, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’97, ’99, ’13)

8 – Georgia (’59, ’66, ’80, ’83, ’02, ’21, ’22, ‘23)

8 – Nebraska (’63, ’70, ’71, ’82, ’94, ’95, ’97, ’99)

8 – Penn State (’68, ’69, ’71, ’73, ’82, ’86, ’94, ’05)

7 – Miami (’83, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’91, ’00, ’01)

7- Notre Dame (’70, ’73, ’77, ’88, ’89, ’92, ’93)

(’53 and ’66 Notre Dame chose to not go to a bowl game)

6 – Clemson (’50, ’81, ’15, ’16, ’18, ’ 19)

5 – LSU (’58, ’61, ’62, ’03, ’19)

5 – Tennessee (’50, ’70, ’85, ’89, ’98)

4 – Auburn (’83, ’87* tie in Sugar Bowl, ’04, ’10)

4 – Florida (’96, ’06, ’08, ’09)

4 – Michigan (’64, ’92, ’97, ‘23)

3 – Arkansas (’64, ’68, ’77)

3 – Michigan State (’53, ’55, ’13)

(’66 could not go to the Rose Bowl consecutive years as conference champion.)

3 – Wisconsin (’93, ’98, ’17)

So what criteria meets your definition of a good year for Penn State football?

You have compiled one heck of a list , and very impressive too . It depends on what type of penn state fan you are referring too . Some say as long as they have their morals and principals and character that is enough . Others say unbeaten season crowned national champion . Some say somewhere in between . For me , unbeaten and national champ

 

[LionsAndBears]

Good:
10 wins or more with at least 1 win against a Top 25 team

Very Good:
10 wins or more with at least 1 win against OSU or Michigan, a B1G Championship and a Playoff Appearance.

Great:
11 wins or more with at least 1 win against OSU or Michigan, a B1G Championship and a National Championship.