Penn State football bowl history: Every bowl the Nittany Lions have played

Penn State football bowl history: Every bowl game the Nittany Lions have played in

Jan 1, 1983, New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Todd Blackledge (14) celebrates on the field against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Superdome during the 1983 Sugar Bowl. The Nittany Lions defeated the Bulldogs 27-23 to win the National Championship. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

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Jan 1, 1983, New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; The video board at the Superdome after the 1983 Sugar Bowl where the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 27-23 to win the National Championship. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

Sugar Bowl (1-3)

1972: Oklahoma 14 Penn State 0

1975: Alabama 13 Penn State 6

1979: Alabama 14 Penn State 7

1983: Penn State 27 Georgia 23

Penn State has only ever won the Sugar Bowl once, but they beat No. 1 Georgia to claim the 1982 National Championship.

The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a Curt Warner two-yard touchdown run. The Nittany Lions added 13 more points in the second quarter with two field goals and another Warner touchdown to take a commanding lead. However, with five seconds remaining before the half, Georgia quarterback John Lastinger made a game of it, throwing a 10-yard touchdown.

Herschel Walker cut the lead to 20-17 with a third-quarter touchdown, but Todd Blacklege responded in the fourth, throwing a 47-yard touchdown to Gregg Garrity to extend the lead. Penn State allowed another touchdown but held on for the win and the national championship, Joe Paterno’s first.

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