Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State's Biggest Wins this Century - Part 1

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 22, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions fans celebrate their teams victory on the field against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Ohio State 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State defeated Ohio State this past Saturday in what could be a program-altering win.  After the Lions improbable 24-21 victory, it got me thinking, what are the top-10 best team wins this century?

Rarely is the middle of the season a great time to take stock of a program, especially Penn State. Rather, it is best to wait until the dust has settled from the season to look at where the program is and how far it has come.  For the sake of argument though, indulge me as we take a stroll down memory lane.

You see, as the final seconds ticked off the clock Saturday night, and it became apparent that Penn State was going to win a most improbable victory, I began to think about what some of the best Nittany Lions win of this century have been.  Some of which were easy to identify, others caused to me to pause for a moment.

In this two-part series I reveal my top-10 signature Penn State victories over the past 16 years (2000- present).  These games are meant to signify important TEAM wins, not necessarily milestone wins.

So, without further ado, I countdown my top-10 biggest Penn State victories from 2000 to the present.

Game #10: Penn State Defeats Ohio State 29 – 27 (10/27/01)

Beaver Stadium was awash in partly cloudy skies as freshman quarterback Zack Mills led Penn State an amazing comeback win over rival Ohio State.  The win propelled Joe Paterno past Paul “Bear” Bryant for the most wins in Division 1A football (324).  The win not only gave Paterno the all-time victories mark, but also punctuated a rather dreary year.  A year that saw the Nittany Lions miss the post-season for the second consecutive season.

Ohio State, led by quarterback Steve Bellisari, pounced on the Nittany Lions from the outset.  A Bellisari to Michael Jenkins 66-yard bomb put the Buckeyes ahead in the first three minutes.

Penn State could manage little in the way of offensive productions.  To be fair, Ohio State was not able to manage much offense after their opening score either.  In fact, both teams had to settle for field goals as Ohio State led 13-9 at the half.  Ohio State opened the second half with a 65-yard Johnathan Wells touchdown run, and followed it up with a 45-yard Derek Ross interception return for a pick-6.

Many in the stands, including myself, felt as though Penn State was headed for a blowout loss, until Zack Mills kept a zone read keeper for a 69-yard touchdown run.  His score not only brought the Lions to within 27-15, but also energized the 108,327 Nittany Lion faithful.

Penn State would go on to score once more in the third quarter to cut the Ohio State lead to 27-22 entering the final frame.

Early in the fourth quarter lefty Zack Mills hooked up with running back Eric McCoo on a 14-yard swing pass to put the Nittany Lions ahead for good, 29-27.  A late Jimmy Kennedy field goal block sealed the come back with for the Lions.

Game #9: Penn State Clobbers Nebraska 40 – 7 (9/14/02)

Penn State’s return to national prominence was on display for a national audience as the Lions squared off with Nebraska.  The Lions had not faced the Cornhuskers since the early 1980’s when both teams were annual national title contenders.

In the 2002 contest, Penn State used the backdrop of an electric night time Beaver Stadium scene and a record audience (110, 753) to throttle No. 8 Nebraska, 40-7.  The Nittany Lions, ranked No. 25 at the time, defeated their first top-10 opponent since besting No. 8 Miami in 1999 (27-23).

Beating Nebraska was the Lions first win over the Cornhuskers since 1982, and it signaled the return of JoePa’s Lions to national prominence.  Penn State used the Nebraska win coupled with a victory over #19 Wisconsin two weeks later to catapult themselves to the Capitol One Bowl.  It was the first time the Lions had been bowling since 1999.

In the first quarter, both teams were trying to feel each other out.  The quarter ended with neither team able to dent the scoreboard.

Penn State opened the scoring in the second quarter as Larry Johnson took the Zack Mills hand off up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown score.  True to form, Nebraska immediately responded with a Judd Davies 2 yard plunge.  Penn State would then regain the lead for good on two Robbie Gould field goals.  The Lions headed to the locker room leading 13-7.

In the second half, especially the third quarter, Penn State took over.  They scored 27 unanswered points highlighted by Rich Gardner’s 42-yard interception return for a score.  Larry Johnson and Michael Robinson both added two touchdowns apiece while Zack Mills was an efficient 19-31 for 259 passing yards.

Game #8: Penn State Wins an OT Thriller Over Michigan 43 – 40 4 OTs (10/12/13)

Penn State entered the 2013 Michigan contest after having lost for the first time to Indiana.  With a game against Devin Gardner and the Wolverines looming, it seemed as if Penn State would be in for another long evening.  Head coach Bill O’Brien, however, had other things in mind for this evening.  His bunch of “fighters” as they would affectionately be known, showed tremendous heart and resolve.

This game will be remembered for the back-and-forth play.  Like two heavyweight boxers slugging it out for 10 rounds, Penn State and Michigan traded body blows hoping to land the final uppercut.

In the first half it seemed like every time Penn State would score, Michigan would immediately respond.  Penn State thought they had forced the Wolverines into a standing eight count when they scored twice before the end of the half.  Michigan trailed 21-10 at the break.

Like all good champions, Michigan picked itself up off the mat in the third quarter.  Thanks in part to Zach Zwinak’s fumble that Frank Clark scooped up and raced with to the end zone, Michigan was able to overtake Penn State 27-24 by the end of the third quarter.

Penn State’s resolve was on full display in the fourth quarter.  With only 45 seconds remaining, and trailing by a touchdown, Christian Hackenberg rallied his team to a game-tying score.  Thanks to some unreal catches by Allen Robinson and Brandon Felder, Penn State marched 80 yards in only 18 seconds.

In overtime, Michigan had two different opportunities to put away Penn State, but could not take advantage.  Then, in the fourth overtime and trailing by three points, Bill O’Brien showed great confidence in his Lions.  He eschewed a short game-tying field goal attempt and went for it on 4th-and-1.  Lions running back Bill Belton rewarded his coach’s confidence by gaining three yards. Four plays later, Belton scurried to daylight for a two-yard game-winning touchdown.  The Lions outlasted and outslugged Michigan 43-40.

Game #7: Heavy Underdog Penn State Wins at Wisconsin 31 – 24 (11/30/13)

Penn State, unable to play in a bowl game due to NCAA sanctions, was essentially playing its bowl game in the season finale at Wisconsin.  The Lions were finishing a season where, since the second game of the season, they had traded wins and losses.  The previous week saw the Lions drop a heartbreaker 23-20 at home to Nebraska.  Many of the Lions faithful and those in the media figured Penn State had no chance against the Badgers.  After all, Wisconsin was playing for a shot to get to a Bowl Championship Series bowl game.

Penn State’s 2013 season was a roller coaster ride.  From the highs of beating Michigan in four overtimes, to the lows of losing to Indiana by 20 points.  The Lions ended the season on quite a high.  Penn State posted a statement win by defeating Wisconsin, a team the Vegas oddsmakers had installed as a 24-point favorite.

Penn State had to play a near flawless game to have a shot at beating the Badgers.  Not only did they play a solid game on both sides of the ball, but they also took advantage of many Wisky blunders.

Christian Hackenberg, who was completing his freshman season, showed much of the promise that surrounded the hype of his recruitment.  Hack, as he was affectionately known, threw for 339 yards on 21 of 30 passes including 4 touchdowns.  Running Back Zach Zwinak added 115 yards rushing while Allen Robinson and Geno Lewis were huge factors through the air.

Bill O’Brien’s team showed the grit and determination that made him a solid head coach for the Lions in what would turn out to be his last game as head coach at Penn State.

Game #6:  Penn State Finishes in the Top-3 After Outdueling Florida State 26 – 23 3OTs (1/3/06)

What Penn State fan could forget the last great duel between legendary coaches Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden?  Penn State outlasted the Seminoles to finish the season ranked in the Top-3 in both the AP and Coach’s Polls.  It was Penn State’s best finish since 1994 season when Penn State finished dubiously ranked No. 2 in both polls.

All-time, Paterno really had Bowden’s number.  Paterno was 7-1 lifetime against his good friend.

Florida State, a team that won the ACC conference by defeating Virginia Tech, was coming off one of their worst seasons in 30 years.  Normally a fixture on the national scene, the Seminoles were reeling, having lost three of their last four contests coming into the Orange Bowl.

On the other hand, there was Penn State.  The Lions entered the Orange Bowl a team looking for national redemption.  Amid two years of sputtering, calls for Joe Paterno to be ushered into retirement were growing louder.  He successfully lobbied (arm twisted) President Spanier and Athletic Director Tim Curley into letting him try for one more national title run.  Only a disputed last-second touchdown in Ann Arbor prevented Penn State from playing for the National Title.

Despite the last second loss, Penn State forged ahead with its remaining schedule.  Everything culminated in a BCS bowl game – The Orange Bowl.

The Lions defense, led by defensive linemen Scott Paxson and Tamba Hali, as well as linebackers Dan Connor and Paul Posluszny, were a terror for opposing offenses.  Penn State sported not only one of the best defenses in the Big Ten, but also in the country.

Penn State’s swarming defense kept Seminoles quarterback Drew Weatherford in check.  He completed just slightly over 50 percent of his passes and only threw one touchdown.  They also stymied Leon Washington and the Florida State rushing attack.  Washignton was the Seminoles leading ground gainer with 30 yards rushing.

Both teams’ place kickers were shaky.  Florida State’s Gary Cismesia and Penn State’s Kevin Kelly went back in forth in overtime.  Each missed kicks to either win the game or give their team the lead.  Finally, in the third overtime, Kevin Kelly nailed a 29-yard game winner for the Lions.

The 2003 edition of the Nittany Lions were a portrait of finding success amid doubt.  So many people counted out players like quarterback Michael Robinson or running back Austin Scott.  Head coach Joe Paterno had his many detractors as well.  No matter the obstacle, these Lions aimed high and reached their goals.

Coming soon look for Part 2 of my countdown of the greatest Penn State victories of from 2000 to the present. There we will countdown from #5 to the greatest Penn State program win from this century.

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