1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 21st-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 12–0. Penn State defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 14–10, in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win Paterno's second consensus national championship.^[1] The team was named national champion by AP, Billingsley, FB News, FW, Matthews, NCF, NFF, Sporting News, UPI, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by FACT, Sagarin (ELO-Chess).^[2]

1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Consensus national champion Fiesta Bowl champion Eastern champion
Fiesta Bowl, W 14–10 vs. Miami (FL)
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
Record	12–0
Head coach	Joe Paterno (21st season)
Offensive coordinator	Fran Ganter (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Jerry Sandusky (10th season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Beaver Stadium
Seasons ← 1985 1987 →

1986 Major eastern college football independents records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Penn State $	6	–	0	–	0			12	–	0	–	0
No. 19 Boston College	3	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Syracuse	3	–	3	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Temple	2	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Pittsburgh	2	–	3	–	0			5	–	5	–	1
Rutgers	2	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	1
West Virginia	1	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
$ – Lambert Trophy Winner Rankings from AP Poll

1986 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Penn State		–		–				12	–	0	–	0
No. 2 Miami (FL)		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
No. 20 Virginia Tech		–		–				9	–	2	–	1
No. 19 Boston College		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Tulsa		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Florida State		–		–				7	–	4	–	1
Army		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southwestern Louisiana		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Temple		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Pittsburgh		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Rutgers		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Cincinnati		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Notre Dame		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Syracuse		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				3	–	6	–	2
Tulane		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
West Virginia		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Louisville		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Navy		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Wichita State		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Northern Illinois		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Memphis State		–		–				1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 6	7:00 p.m.	Temple	No. 6	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	TCS	W 45–15	85,732
September 20	7:00 p.m.	at Boston College	No. 5	Sullivan Stadium Foxborough, MA	ESPN	W 26–14	42,329
September 27	1:30 p.m.	East Carolina	No. 7	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	TCS	W 42–17	84,774	^[3]
October 4	12:20 p.m.	Rutgers	No. 5	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	TCS	W 31–6	84,000
October 11	12:20 p.m.	Cincinnati	No. 5	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	TCS	W 23–17	84,812
October 18	1:30 p.m.	Syracuse	No. 6	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	TCS	W 42–3	85,512
October 25	3:30 p.m.	at No. 2 Alabama	No. 6	Bryant–Denny Stadium Tuscaloosa, AL (rivalry)	ABC	W 23–3	60,210	^[4]
November 1	7:30 p.m.	at West Virginia	No. 2	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV (rivalry)	ESPN	W 19–0	59,184	^[5]
November 8	1:00 p.m.	Maryland	No. 2	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	TCS	W 17–15	85,561	^[6]
November 15	3:30 p.m.	at Notre Dame	No. 3	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	ABC	W 24–19	59,075
November 22	12:20 p.m.	Pittsburgh	No. 2	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	TCS	W 34–14	85,722
January 2, 1987	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 1 Miami (FL)	No. 2	Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl)	NBC	W 14–10	73,098
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Rankings

See also: 1986 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

AP Poll

Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
6	5	5	7	5	5	6	6	2	2	3	2	2	2	1

UPI Poll

Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
5	5	6	6	5	4	5	5	3	2	3	2	2	2	1

Game summaries

Temple

See also: 1986 Temple Owls football team

Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary (first night game in Beaver Stadium History)

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Temple	0	6	0	9	15
#6 Penn State	21	3	14	7	45

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 85,732
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – TU – TU – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter TU – PSU – TU – Top passers TU – PSU – Top rushers TU – PSU – Top receivers TU – PSU – Top defenders TU – PSU –

Boston College

See also: 1986 Boston College Eagles football team

Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
#5 Penn State	9	3	7	7	26
Boston College	0	0	7	7	14

at Sullivan Stadium

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 7:00 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 42,329
• TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, Tim Brando

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – Third Quarter BC – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – BC – Top passers PSU – BC – Top rushers PSU – BC – Top receivers PSU – BC – Top defenders PSU – BC –

East Carolina

See also: 1986 East Carolina Pirates football team

East Carolina vs. Penn State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
East Carolina	0	0	3	14	17
#7 Penn State	14	21	0	7	42

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: September 27
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 84,774
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Third Quarter ECU – Fourth Quarter PSU – ECU – ECU – Top passers ECU – PSU – Top rushers ECU – PSU – Top receivers ECU – PSU – Top defenders ECU – PSU –

Rutgers

See also: 1986 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Rutgers	0	0	0	6	6
#5 Penn State	14	3	7	7	31

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 12:20 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 84,000
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – Third Quarter PSU – Fourth Quarter RUT – PSU – Top passers RUT – PSU – Top rushers RUT – PSU – Top receivers RUT – PSU – Top defenders RUT – PSU –

Cincinnati

See also: 1986 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

Cincinnati vs. Penn State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Cincinnati	0	7	7	3	17
#5 Penn State	0	14	0	9	23

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: October 11
• Game time: 12:20 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 84,812
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter No scoring Second Quarter UC – PSU – PSU – Third Quarter UC – Fourth Quarter UC – PSU – PSU – Top passers UC – PSU – Top rushers UC – PSU – Top receivers UC – PSU – Top defenders UC – PSU –

Syracuse

See also: 1986 Syracuse Orangemen football team and Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry

Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Syracuse	0	0	0	3	3
#6 Penn State	17	9	21	7	54

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: October 18
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 85,512
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter SU – PSU – PSU – Top passers SU – PSU – Top rushers SU – PSU – Top receivers SU – PSU – Top defenders SU – PSU –

#2 Alabama

See also: 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–Penn State football rivalry

Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
#6 Penn State	0	14	3	6	23
#2 Alabama	3	0	0	0	3

at Bryant–Denny Stadium

• Date: October 25
• Game time: 3:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 60,210
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig

Game information

First Quarter ALA – Tiffin, 40-yard field goal, (ALA 3–0) Second Quarter PSU – Dozier, 19-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–3) PSU – Thomas, 3-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–3) Third Quarter PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 17–3) Fourth Quarter PSU – Manca, 29-yard field goal, (PSU 20–3) PSU – Manca, 42-yard field goal, (PSU 23–3) Top passers PSU – ALA – Top rushers PSU – ALA – Top receivers PSU – ALA – Top defenders PSU – ALA –

West Virginia

See also: 1986 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
#2 Penn State	7	6	6	0	19
West Virginia	0	0	0	0	0

at Mountaineer Field

• Date: November 1
• Game time: 7:30 PM EST
• Game attendance: 59,184
• TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Kevin Kiley, Tim Brando

Game information

First Quarter PSU – Dozier, 23-yard TD pass from Shaffer, Manca kick good, 10:55 (PSU 7–0) Second Quarter PSU – Manca, 42-yard field goal, 12:08 (PSU 10–0) PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, 7:59 (PSU 13–0) Third Quarter PSU – Manca, 22-yard field goal, 6:04 (PSU 16–0) PSU – Manca, 27-yard field goal, 3:13 (PSU 19–0) Fourth Quarter No scoring Top passers PSU – WVU – Top rushers PSU – WVU – Top receivers PSU – WVU – Top defenders PSU – WVU –

Maryland

See also: 1986 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–Penn State football rivalry

Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Maryland	0	0	3	12	15
#2 Penn State	0	7	0	10	17

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: November 8
• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game attendance: 85,651
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information

First Quarter No scoring Second Quarter PSU – Dozier, 1-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–0) Third Quarter MD – Plocki, 18-yard field goal, (PSU 7–3) Fourth Quarter PSU – Dozier, 9-yard TD run, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–3) MD – Joines, 16-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 14–9) PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 17–9) MD – Bonato, 27-yard TD pass from Henning, 2-point pass failed, (PSU 17–15) Top passers MD – PSU – Top rushers MD – PSU – Top receivers MD – PSU – Top defenders MD – PSU –

Notre Dame

See also: 1986 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

Penn State vs. Notre Dame – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
#3 Penn State	7	3	7	7	24
Notre Dame	0	6	7	6	19

at Notre Dame Stadium

• Date: November 15
• Game time: 3:30 PM EST
• Game attendance: 59,075
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Tim Brant, Al Trautwig

Game information
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter ND – ND – PSU – Third Quarter ND – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – ND – Top passers PSU – ND – Top rushers PSU – ND – Top receivers PSU – ND – Top defenders PSU – ND –

Pittsburgh

See also: 1986 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Pittsburgh vs. Penn State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Pittsburgh	7	0	0	7	14
#2 Penn State	10	7	10	7	34

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: November 22
• Game time: 12:20 PM EST
• Game attendance: 85,722
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PITT – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – PITT – Top passers PITT – PSU – Top rushers PITT – PSU – Top receivers PITT – PSU – Top defenders PITT – PSU –

#1 Miami (FL) (Sunkist Fiesta Bowl)

See also: 1986 Miami Hurricanes football team and 1987 Fiesta Bowl

Miami (FL) vs. Penn State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
#1 Miami (FL)	0	7	0	3	10
#2 Penn State	0	7	0	7	14

at Sun Devil Stadium

• Date: January 2, 1987
• Game time: 8:00 PM EST
• Game attendance: 73,098
• Referee: Jimmy Harper
• TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Griese, Jimmy Cefalo, Ahmad Rashad

Game information

First Quarter No scoring Second Quarter MIA – Bratton, 1-yard TD run, Seelig kick good, 6:38 (MIA 7–0) PSU – Shaffer, 4-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 1:14 (TIE 7–7) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter MIA – Seelig, 38-yard field goal, 11:49 (MIA 10–7) PSU – Dozier, 6-yard TD run, Manca kick good, 8:13 (PSU 14–10) Top passers MIA – PSU – Top rushers MIA – PSU – Top receivers MIA – PSU – Top defenders MIA – PSU –

Roster

1986 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 9 Mike Alexander Jr OT 74 Stan Clayton Jr G 57 Chris Conlin Sr RB 42 D. J. Dozier Jr C 78 Roger Duffy Fr G 54 Mitch Frerotte Sr FB 27 John Hornyak Sr FB 44 Tim Manoa Sr G 59 Dan Morgan Sr TE 89 Bob Mrosko So TE 88 Paul Pomfret Jr C 56 Keith Radecic Sr WR 6 Ray Roundtree Jr QB 14 John Shaffer Sr TE 91 Brian Siverling Sr RB 35 Steve Smith Sr G 79 Dave Szott Fr RB 32 Blair Thomas So WR 5 Michael Timpson So G 66 Steve Wisniewski So C 72 Mike Wolf Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 35 Trey Bauer Jr CB 16 Duffy Cobbs Sr CB/S 43 Andre Collins Fr LB 31 Shane Conlan Sr LB 90 Pete Giftopoulos Jr LB 53 Don Graham Sr S 2 Stu Helgeson Jr H 3 Marques Henderson Jr S 22 Ray Isom Sr LB 55 Tim Johnson Sr LB 52 Gregg Johns Jr LB 84 Keith Karpinski Jr DB 21 Sid Lewis Sr LB 92 Quintus McDonald So LB 33 John Sweenely So CB 19 Gary Wilkerson So	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P 11 John Bruno Sr PK 10 Massimo Manca Sr K 2 Ray Tarasi Fr SN 68 Greg Truitt Jr ^[7]^[8]	Head coach Joe Paterno Coordinators/assistant coaches Tom Bradley Jim Caldwell Ron Dickerson Fran Ganter Nick Gasparato Bob Phillips Joe Sarra Jerry Sandusky Jim Williams Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible   Injured   Redshirt

Awards

• Joe Paterno

Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year

Paul "Bear" Bryant Award

NFL Draft

Thirteen Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1987 NFL Draft.

Round	Pick	Overall	Name	Position	Team
1st	8	8	Shane Conlan	Linebacker	Buffalo Bills
1st	14	14	D.J. Dozier	Running back	Minnesota Vikings
3rd	24	80	Tim Manoa	Running back	Cleveland Browns
3rd	25	81	Steve Smith	Running back	Los Angeles Raiders
4th	1	84	Don Graham	Linebacker	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5th	14	126	John Bruno	Punter	St. Louis Cardinals
5th	20	132	Chris Conlin	Offensive guard	Miami Dolphins
6th	1	141	Tim Johnson	Defensive end	Pittsburgh Steelers
6th	22	162	Bob White	Defensive line	San Francisco 49ers
8th	27	222	Dan Morgan	Offensive guard	Denver Broncos
9th	24	247	Bob Ontko	Linebacker	Indianapolis Colts
10th	17	268	Sid Lewis	Defensive back	New York Jets
11th	7	286	Brian Siverling	Tight End	Detroit Lions

Media

Radio

Flagship station	Play-by-play	Color commentator	Sideline reporter	Studio host
WMAJ AM 1450	Gil Santos Lanny Frattare

References

1. "Penn State Yearly Results (1985–1989)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved July 26, 2015.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
3. "Paterno frets about easy win". The Times-Tribune. September 28, 1986. Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Move over Miami: State bombs Bama". Sunday News. October 27, 1986. Retrieved February 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Lions' defense stifles W. Virginia". The Daily News. November 2, 1986. Retrieved January 31, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Terps wage battle but lose to Penn St". Florence Morning News. November 9, 1986. Retrieved February 1, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Home".
8. "ArchivesSpace Public Interface | Archival Collections".