In all its years of college football, Penn State has played 1,380 games (with 409 loses entering the 2024 season), so it seems there would be plenty of candidates if you wanted to change the result of just one game.
Here are a few contenders for that reversal of fortune and my one selection.
The Candidates
Alabama 14, Penn State 7 – 1979
First to mind among the candidates would be the 1979 Sugar Bowl, a frustrating loss for undefeated and No. 1-ranked Penn State to No. 2 Alabama punctuated by stubborn run-up-the-middle failures that produced a legendary goal-line stand — and national championship — for the Crimson Tide.
While Penn State fans lament running back Mike Guman’s inability to score in the fourth quarter, Alabama defensive lineman Barry Krauss made the game-saving tackle.
Penn State was denied and did not win its first national championship until 1982.
Still, the wait made the first championship more special — with cars lining Route 322 from Harrisburg to State College when the team returned from New Orleans that season.
Iowa 6, Penn State 4 – 2004
An embarrassment offensively that was awful to watch in person, with so much ineptitude on display. It was a home loss to a bad team during a stretch of some really bad Penn State seasons.
Still, if the result were different the memories would not hurt so much. A 6-4 loss? It’s just unbelievable. Everyone who was there probably has a story, so changing it would be a shame.
Temple 27, Penn State 10 – 2015
A 10-0 lead that wilted into an embarrassing road loss in Philadelphia. Before that, Penn State had not lost to Temple since 1941, but 10 sacks take a toll on a team’s offense.
It was an inauspicious start to a season that eventually ended at the Pinstripe Bowl. It was not a game marred by a bad call or controversy. Penn State played poorly. No controversy there. Worth considering a change, but teams need adversity to grow, and that game certainly provided it.
Minnesota 24, Penn State 23 – 1999
Penn State started the season 9-0 with wins at Miami and at Iowa before losing on a late field goal at home to the Gophers. That prompted a three-game slide to end the regular season before a 24-0 victory in the Alamo Bowl.
Sure, a lot of non-football things eventually got connected back to that season, but the Minnesota L was surprising and unexpected — an outcome worth considering changing. But only worth considering, because another loss hurt more.
The Pick
Pitt 14, Penn State 7 – 1988
OK, this is the game that would top my list for change.
After winning four of its first five games, Penn State fell apart in 1988 — dropping five of the final six and finishing with a losing record for the first time in 49 years.
It was a debacle because the team had a bit too much talent to lose that many games.
Other late-season losses were to Syracuse (24-10, home), Alabama (8-3, away), No. 7 WVU (51-30, away) and No. 1 Notre Dame (21-3, away).
So, Pitt, at home, was probably the most winnable, and any W against the Panthers meant something back then. Plus, one victory would’ve shifted the won-loss record to the positive side — extending that streak of non-losing seasons, and that streak might’ve continued for another half decade.
It doesn’t determine a national championship. It doesn’t alter some gameday controversy. It just becomes a victory against Pitt — and that’s always good enough for me.
You can read Darian’s picks here. Be sure to share which game you’d change the outcome of by filling out our form below.
