Victory Bell Rings
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Penn State Football: The best teams to not have a chance to play for the Natty

By Joey Lovell

2 Jan 1995: Quarterback Kerry Collins and fullback Jon Witman of the Penn State Nittany Lions hug each other after the Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Penn State won the game 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport
2 Jan 1995: Quarterback Kerry Collins and fullback Jon Witman of the Penn State Nittany Lions hug each other after the Rose Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Penn State won the game 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell /Allsport /
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PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: John Cappelletti #22 of the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA – SEPTEMBER 15: John Cappelletti #22 of the Penn State Nittany Lions. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images) /

It was just five years later that Paterno had his next undefeated season. The 1973 team started the year ranked 7th in the preseason polls. In the first 2 weeks, they outscored their opponents (Stanford and Navy) by a combined 59-6. For this sterling effort, they advanced one spot.

In week 3 they defeated Iowa 27-8 but lost that spot they had just gained. After defeating the two other service academies 19-9 (Air Force) and 54-3 (Army), they rose two spots to #5. They then destroyed Syracuse 49-6 and demolished West Virginia 62-14. Their reward? Dropping back to #6, where they would remain for the rest of the regular season.

The 1973 season was not filled with just disappointment. It featured Penn State’s only Heisman Trophy winner, running back John Cappelletti. Rushing for the second most yards in a Penn State season (at the time), Cappelletti had 1522 yards while scoring 17 TD’s. Twice he rushed for four touchdowns in a game that season.

Closing out the regular season with a convincing 35-13 win against Pitt, Penn State could not gain any ground in the national polls. Playing in their third Orange Bowl in five seasons, the Nittany Lions defeated the Tigers of LSU 16-9.

Yet that win was only good for moving Penn State up one spot, finishing 5th in the nation with a 12-0. Notre Dame finished 11-0 to win the National Championship. Ohio State, who tied Michigan in their yearly rivalry, ended 10-0-1 in 2nd place. Oklahoma, who had tied #1 USC in week 2, also finished with a 10-0-1 record in 3rd place. Alabama, who had been undefeated and ranked #1 going into the Sugar Bowl, lost to Notre Dame and dropped three spots to #4.

Two teams with a tie and one with a loss ended up ahead of Penn State. It’s no wonder Nittany Nation is jaded from the pollsters.

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