Fourteen years of Penn State victories have been cleared from the record books.
While the NCAA may no longer recognize them, here are eight of the most important games wiped from the slate of the Joe Paterno era.
They are listed in no particular order, and with 111 of Paterno’s vacated wins to choose from, many have been left off the list.
Penn State-Ohio State 2005
Considered by many to be the loudest, and one of the most important games in the modern era of Penn State football, the resurgent Nittany Lions took on No. 6 Ohio State, winning 17-10. The first whiteout on national TV and a ruckus crowd helped turn Beaver Stadium into one of the toughest places to play in college football. The victory spring boarded Penn State onto the national stage once again.
Penn State-Michigan State 2008
Fans braved freezing cold temperatures to watch Penn State dismantle the Spartans, 49-18, for a share of the Big Ten Conference title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. The game was the signature moment for seniors Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler, who enjoyed their last game in Beaver Stadium after four long years as one of the most heralded receiving corps in Penn State history.
Penn State-Florida State 2006
A triple overtime 26-23 thriller went down as one of the great bowl games in Penn State history. Paterno faced off against coaching rival Bobby Bowden for the seventh and final time in their storied history. The victory capped off a year which saw Penn State return to the nation spotlight, finishing the year ranked third in the nation.
Penn State-Ohio State 2001
Quarterback Zack Mills led the Nittany Lions on an 18-point comeback against the Buckeyes securing what was then Joe Paterno’s 324th victory, good enough to pass Bear Bryant for the overall lead in victories. The game featured a 66-yard touchdown run by Mills, which helped bring Penn State back into the game.
Penn State-Northwestern 2010
Before this game, the 18-point comeback against Ohio State had been the largest comeback in Beaver Stadium history. A Matt McGloin-led offense bettered that number, coming back from 21 down to beat Northwestern, 35-21. It marked Paterno’s 400th career victory.
Penn State-Northwestern 2005
Down by three points with only 1:39 left in the game, Michael Robinson led the Nittany Lions almost 85 yards down the field for the game-winning score to take a 35-29 lead. While the game itself marked no historical significance, the victory kept Penn State’s perfect season alive. A loss to Northwestern could have crippled Penn State’s season that would eventually bring it back to the national stage. A huge 4th-and-15 conversion kept the drive alive for Penn State.
Penn State-Nebraska 2002
In front of a crowd of 110,753, a new Beaver Stadium attendance record, Penn State routed the Cornhuskers 40–7. Rich Gardner had his first career interception, returning it 44 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. Many in Beaver Stadium that night have said that Gardner’s interception was the single loudest moment they have experienced in Beaver Stadium. The victory marked Penn State’s first over a top-10 team since 1999. The game also acted as a source of revenge following Penn State’s undefeated 1994 season, where the Nittany Lions were passed over by Nebraska for a national title.
Penn State-Illinois 2011
In the cold and the snow, a 0-0 halftime score was nothing to stick around for. Many fans left Beaver Stadium for warmer cover but missed what became a memorable evening. Silas Redd took a 3-yard run into the end zone to give Penn State a 10-7 lead with only 1:09 remaining in the game. Illinois was able to get within field goal range, but as time expired, a 42-yard field goal bounced off of the right upright and Paterno became the all-time winningest coach in major college football with 409 victories. The game would be Paterno’s last at the helm as the ensuing bye week led to the beginning of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Paterno was fired Nov. 9.
