Penn State Football: Ranking the top 20 wins in program history
By Brad Weiss
12. 1990 (18) Penn State football 24, (1) Notre Dame 21
The 1990 Notre Dame football team was a team many felt were going to win a national title, as they possessed quality players up and down their roster. While most remember that team due to the Catholics vs. Convicts matchup with Miami (FL), it would be a battle with Penn State that lands them on our list.
Notre Dame went into this game already beating three ranked teams in the Hurricanes, Michigan, and Michigan State. Playing inside Notre Dame Stadium, the Nittany Lions had yet to beat a ranked team that season, despite the fact they went into the game as the No. 18-ranked team in the country.
It looked bleak early for Penn State, as they were down 14-0 in the first quarter and 21-7 at the half. However, they were able to get to freshman quarterback Rick Mirer, and their quarterback, Tony Sacca, put the team on his back. In the end, it was a Darren Perry interception that set up a 34-yard field goal by Craig Fayak with four seconds left to seal the victory for Penn State.
Penn State would beat Pittsburgh the following week and then lose to Florida State in the Blockbuster Bowl, finishing the year as the No. 11-ranked team in the country.