Jan. 11, 2011
Top Football Records 2005-2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., - Penn State continues to reside among the nation's football elite in on-field and academic success, earning a winning percentage the past six years that ranks among the top 10 percent nationally among the nation's 120 Football Bowl Subdivision programs.
Since the start of the 2005 season, Penn State has earned a 58-19 (75.3) record, tied with Oregon for No. 12 in the nation. Over the past six years, Coach Joe Paterno's Nittany Lions have won two Big Ten Championships, captured four bowl games and played in five New Year's or Bowl Championship Series (BCS) games, the nation's third-highest total.
Over the past six years, Penn State also has had only one change among its nine full-time assistant coaches and ranks among the national leaders in coaching stability and longevity at the same institution.
Among the Nittany Lions' highlights since 2005:
- Big Ten Championships and BCS berths in 2005 and 2008
- Won 2006 FedEx Orange Bowl and played in 2009 Rose Bowl
- Five New Year's or BCS bowl bids (No. 3 in nation)
- Four bowl victories (tied for No. 5 in nation)
- Five final Top 25 rankings (3 Top 10)
- Big Ten's No. 2 overall and No. 3 conference records
- 25-4 non-conference record
- Nine First-team All-Americans
- 18 All-Americans (1st, 2nd or 3rd team)
- Two Big Ten-Chicago Tribune Silver Football winners
- 30 First-team All-Big Ten selections
- 37-6 (86.0) record in Beaver Stadium
- 15 of Top 20 all-time Beaver Stadium crowds
The Penn State football program also has achieved tremendous academic success throughout Paterno's Hall of Fame tenure. The Nittany Lions have had 47 ESPN/CoSIDA First-team Academic All-Americans under Paterno, with 37 first-team honorees. Since 2005, Penn State has had 16 Academic All-Americans (14 first-team), the nation's highest total
Among the Nittany Lions' academic highlights since 2005:
- Two National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes
- 14 ESPN/CoSIDA First-team Academic All-Americans (No. 1 in nation)
- 84 percent NCAA Graduation Success Rate (2010 report)
- 89 percent NCAA federal Graduation Rate (2009 report; No. 1 among teams in final 2009 AP Top 25
- 85 percent NCAA Graduation Success Rate (2009 report; No. 1 among teams in final 2009 AP Top 25)
- 106 Academic All-Big Ten honorees
The Nittany Lions return 16 starters for the 2011 season, (7 offense, 8 defense, 1 specialist), as well as 17 players that have starting experience. Penn State opens its 125th season Sept. 3 vs. Indiana State in Beaver Stadium and Alabama visits Happy Valley on Sept. 10 for the first time since 1989.