American college football season
The1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team representedPennsylvania State University during the1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 17th-year head coachJoe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 11–1. Penn State defeated theGeorgia Bulldogs, 27–23, in theSugar Bowl to win Paterno's first consensusnational championship. The team was selected national champion byAP,Billingsley,DeVold,Dunkel,FACT,FB News,Football Research,FW,Litkenhous,Matthews,NCF,NFF,The New York Times,Poling,Sagarin, Sagarin (ELO-Chess),Sporting News,UPI/coaches, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion byHelms.[1]
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
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| September 4 | 1:30 p.m. | Temple | No. 8 | | ESPN (tape delay) | W 31–14 | 80,000 | [2] |
| September 11 | 1:30 p.m. | Maryland | No. 7 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA (rivalry)
| TCS | W 39–31 | 84,597 | [3] |
| September 18 | 1:30 p.m. | Rutgers | No. 8 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA
| TCS | W 49–14 | 83,268 | [4] |
| September 25 | 3:50 p.m. | No. 2Nebraska | No. 8 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA
| CBS | W27–24 | 85,304 | [5] |
| October 9 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 4Alabama | No. 3 | | CBS | L 21–42 | 76,821 | [6] |
| October 16 | 1:30 p.m. | Syracuse | No. 8 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA (rivalry)
| TCS | W 28–7 | 84,762 | [7] |
| October 23 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 13West Virginia | No. 9 | | USA | W 24–0 | 60,958 | [8] |
| October 30 | 1:30 p.m. | atBoston College | No. 8 | | TCS | W 52–17 | 33,205 | [9] |
| November 6 | 1:30 p.m. | NC State | No. 7 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA
| TCS | W 54–0 | 84,837 | [10] |
| November 13 | 3:50 p.m. | at No. 13Notre Dame | No. 5 | | ABC | W 24–14 | 59,075 | [11] |
| November 26 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 5Pittsburgh | No. 2 | - Beaver Stadium
- University Park, PA (rivalry)
| ABC | W 19–10 | 85,522 | [12] |
| January 1, 1983 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 1Georgia | No. 2 | | ABC | W 27–23 | 78,124 | [13] |
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Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes | Week |
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| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
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| AP | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 3(7) | 3(9) | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5(1) | 3(2) | 2(2) | 2(2) | 2 | 1(44) |
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| UPI | 5 | 5* | 8 | 5 | 3(3) | 3(6) | 10 | 8(1) | 7 | 6 | 4(1) | 3(3) | 2(2) | 2(2) | 2(3) | 1(33) |
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* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.
| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- PSU – Warner, 40-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–0)
- PSU – Baugh, 31-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–0)
- PSU – Williams, 16-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 21–0)
- Second Quarter
- TU – Slade, 1-yard TD pass from Riordan, Clauser kick good, (PSU 21–7)
- PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 24–7)
- Third Quarter
No scoring - Fourth Quarter
- PSU – Williams, 4-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 31–7)
- TU – Brown, 14-yard TD pass from Riordan, Clauser kick good, (PSU 31–14)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
No scoring - Fourth Quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- PSU – Gancitano, 31-yard field goal, 6:14 (PSU 3–0)
- Second Quarter
- PSU – Williams, 4-yard TD run, Gancitano kick good, 1:57 (PSU 10–0)
- Third Quarter
No scoring - Fourth Quarter
- PSU – Radecic 85-yard interception return for TD, Gancitano kick good, 11:29 (PSU 17–0)
- PSU – Jackson, 9-yard TD run, Gancitano kick good, 2:42 (PSU 24–0)
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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North Carolina State
[edit]| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
| - Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- Top defenders
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No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (8–1) vs. No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6–1–1) – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| No. 5 Nittany Lions | 0 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 24 |
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| No. 13 Fighting Irish | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
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atNotre Dame Stadium •Notre Dame, Indiana
| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- ND – Chris Smith 8-yard TD pass from Ken Karcher, Mike Johnston kick good, 7:27 (ND 7–0)
- Second Quarter
- PSU – Todd Blackledge 1-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick good, 10:22 (TIE 7–7)
- PSU – Nick Gancitano 41-yard field goal, 8:07 (PSU 10–7)
- PSU – Nick Gancitano 29-yard field goal, 1:41 (PSU 13–7)
- ND – Allen Pinkett 93-yard TD kickoff return, Mike Johnston kick good, 1:27 (ND 14–13)
- Third Quarter
No scoring - Fourth Quarter
- PSU – Curt Warner 48-yard TD pass from Todd Blackledge, pass failed, 13:36 (PSU 19–14)
- PSU – Safety, Allen Pinkett tackled by Walker Lee Ashley in end zone, 13:28 (PSU 21–14)
- PSU – Nick Gancitano 27-yard field goal, 3:11 (PSU 24–14)
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| Statistics | PSU | ND |
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| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: comp–att–int | | |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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| Penn State | Passing |
| Rushing |
| Receiving |
| Notre Dame | Passing |
| Rushing |
| Receiving |
Officials
| Game | Position | Name |
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| at #13 Notre Dame | Referee | Tom Quinn |
| Umpire | Don McDonnell |
| Linesman | Otto Puls |
| Line Judge | Richard Farina |
| Filed Judge | Larry Nemmers |
| Back Judge | Weldon Waites |
| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- PSU – Nick Gancitano, 26-yard field goal, (PSU 3–0)
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
- PSU – Nick Gancitano, 19-yard field goal, (PSU 16–7)
- PITT –Eric Schubert, 17-yard field goal, (PSU 16–10)
- PSU – Nick Gancitano, 29-yard field goal, (PSU 19–10)
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| Statistics | PITT | PSU |
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| First downs | | |
| Total yards | | |
| Rushing yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: comp–att–int | | |
| Time of possession | | |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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| Pittsburgh | Passing |
| Rushing |
| Receiving |
| Penn State | Passing |
| Rushing |
| Receiving |
Officials
| Game | Position | Name |
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| No. 5 Pittsburgh | Referee | Raymond Bower |
| Umpire | Robert Aebersold |
| Linesman | Richard Farina |
| Line Judge | Earl Birdy |
| Field Judge | Thomas Adams |
| Back Judge | Paul Lattanzi |
vs No. 1 Georgia (1983 Sugar Bowl)
[edit]| Overall record | Previous meeting | Previous winner |
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| First meeting |
1983 Sugar Bowl
No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–1) vs No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (11–0) – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| No. 2 Nittany Lions | 7 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
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| No. 1 Bulldogs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
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atLouisiana Superdome •New Orleans, Louisiana
| Game information |
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- First Quarter
- PSU –Curt Warner 2-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick, 12:09 (PSU 7–0)
- UGA –Kevin Butler, 27-yard field goal, 6:05 (PSU 7–3)
- Second Quarter
- PSU – Nick Gancitano, 38-yard field goal, 11:47 (PSU 10–3)
- PSU –Curt Warner 9-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick, 2:43 (PSU 17–3)
- PSU – Nick Gancitano, 45-yard field goal, 0:44 (PSU 20–3)
- UGA – Herman Archie 10-yard TD pass from John Lastinger,Kevin Butler kick, 0:05 (PSU 20–10)
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
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| Statistics | PSU | UGA |
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| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 367 | 326 |
| Rushing yards | 44–139 | 46–160 |
| Passing yards | 228 | 166 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 13–23–0 | 12–28–2 |
| Time of possession | 30:38 | 29:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Penn State | Passing |
| Rushing |
| Receiving |
| Georgia | Passing |
| Rushing |
| Receiving |
Officials
| Game | Position | Name |
|---|
1983 Sugar Bowl vs No. 1 Georgia | Referee | Vance Carlson |
| Umpire | Bob Klisares |
| Linesman | Dale Schreurs |
| Line Judge | Kent Houck |
| Field Judge | John Schroeder |
| Back Judge | Artie Palk |
| 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster |
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| Players | Coaches |
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| Offense | Defense | Special teams | - Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Injured Redshirt
Roster |
- Davey O'Brien Award
- Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
- Nittany Lion of the Year
Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the1983 NFL draft.
| Flagship station | Play-by-play | Color commentator | Sideline reporter | Studio host |
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| WMAJ AM 1450 | Fran Fisher | John Grant | | |
- ^2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records(PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. p. 114. RetrievedDecember 10, 2018.
- ^"Penn State thumps Owls on early scores".Courier-Post. September 5, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Penn State rallies to edge Maryland".The Sunday News. September 12, 1982. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Wide-open Penn State crushes Rutgers, 49–14".Daily Record. September 19, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Penn State comeback kills Huskers' hopes".The Sioux City Journal. September 26, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"'Bama brings Penn State back to earth".The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 10, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 19, 2021 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Lions' running game wakes up in 28–7 triumph".The Times-Tribune. October 17, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Penn State's defense devastates W. Virginia".Democrat and Chronicle. October 24, 1982. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Penn State destroys BC".Boston Sunday Globe. October 31, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Nittany Lions follow new script".The Sunday Times. November 7, 1982. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2024 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Penn State stops Irish".The Macon Telegraph & News. November 14, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Penn State needs 'one more' after big win over Pittsburgh".Lancaster New Era. November 27, 1982. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^"Penn State slips by top-ranked Georgia Bulldogs".The Daily Advertiser. January 2, 1983. RetrievedFebruary 18, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com.
- ^Eugene Register-Guard. November 14, 1982. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
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| Venues | |
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| Bowls & rivalries | |
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| Culture & lore | |
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| People | |
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| Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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| 1936–1949 | |
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| 1950s | |
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| 1960s | - 1960:Minnesota(AP, Coaches,NFF) /Ole Miss(FWAA)
- 1961:Alabama(AP, Coaches, NFF) /Ohio State(FWAA)
- 1962:USC
- 1963:Texas
- 1964:Alabama(AP, Coaches) /Arkansas(FWAA) /Notre Dame(NFF)
- 1965:Alabama(AP, FWAA) /Michigan State(Coaches, FWAA, NFF)
- 1966:Notre Dame(AP, Coaches, FWAA, NFF) /Michigan State(NFF)
- 1967:USC
- 1968:Ohio State
- 1969:Texas
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| 1970s | |
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| 1980–1991 | |
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