American college football season
The 1970 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 1970 NCAA University Division football season . The team was led by fifth-year head coach Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania .
The Nittany Lions entered the season with a 22-game winning streak, unbeaten (29–0–1) in their last thirty games.[ 1] [ 2] By mid-season, they had dropped three (including one at home), then won the last five to finish at 7–3 and climbed to No. 18 in the final AP poll .[ 3]
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 19 Navy No. 7 W 55–748,566 September 26 at No. 18 Colorado No. 4 ABC L 13–4142,850 October 3 at Wisconsin No. 16 L 16–2955,204 October 10 at Boston College W 28–325,252 October 17 Syracuse Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry ) L 7–2450,540 October 24 at Army ABC W 38–1441,062 October 31 West Virginia Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry ) W 42–849,932 [ 4] November 7 at Maryland W 34–023,400 [ 5] November 14 Ohio Beaver Stadium University Park, PA W 32–2243,000 November 21 Pittsburgh No. 20 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry ) W 35–1550,017 HomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Notable players included senior linebacker Jack Ham and junior running backs Lydell Mitchell and Franco Harris .
1970 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster
After three consecutive bowl appearances , Penn State stayed home this year, but went to a bowl in each of the next thirteen seasons .
Four Nittany Lions were selected in the 1971 NFL draft .
^ "Colorado ends Penn State victory string, 41-13" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. ^ Harral, Paul K. (September 27, 1970). "23-game Penn State string halted by Colorado, 41-13" . Youngstown Vindicator . (Ohio). UPI. p. D1. ^ Franke, Russ (November 22, 1970). "Lions thunder past Pitt, 35-15" . Pittsburgh Press . p. 1, section 4. ^ "West Virginia routed by Penn State, 42–8" . The Greenville News . November 1, 1970. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com . ^ "Inartistic quarterback leads Penn St. to 34–0 victory" . Beckley Post-Herald & The Raleigh Register . November 8, 1970. Retrieved January 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
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