Alabama–Penn State football rivalry
| First meeting | December 19, 1959 Penn State, 7–0 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | September 10, 2011 Alabama, 27–11 |
| Next meeting | TBD |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 15 |
| All-time series | Alabama leads, 10–5[1] |
| Largest victory | Alabama, 42–21 (1982) Penn State, 23–3 (1986) |
| Longest win streak | Alabama, 4 (1975–1982) |
| Current win streak | Alabama, 2 (2010–present) |
The Alabama–Penn State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and Penn State Nittany Lions football team of Pennsylvania State University.[2][3][4] Following their three Bowl games in 1959, 1975 and 1979, the teams met for 10 straight years in what was ofted decribed as one of the nation's top intersectional rivalries.[5][6][7][8]
After their 1990 game, the series became dormant with Penn State's move to the Big Ten Conference[9][10] but was renewed in 2010 in Tuscaloosa[11][12] and 2011 in State College.[13][14][15]
Bowl games
[edit]1959 Liberty Bowl
[edit]In a defensive struggle, the only scoring of the game came at the close of the second quarter, as Penn State threw for a touchdown on a fake field goal, leading to a 7–0 win for the Nittany Lions.[16]
1975 Sugar Bowl
[edit]With each team successfully kicking two field goals, the winning margin was a third-quarter touchdown by the Crimson Tide, as Alabama won, 13–6.[17]
1979 Sugar Bowl
[edit]Alabama scored in the second quarter, then Penn State answered in the third, then Alabama took a 14–7 lead on a touchdown set up by a 62-yard punt return.[18] Penn State had a chance to tie in the fourth, but Chuck Fusina threw an interception into the Alabama end zone. Then the Crimson Tide had a chance to put the game away, but fumbled the football back to Penn State at the Nittany Lion 19-yard-line with four minutes to go. Penn State drove to a first and goal at the Alabama eight. On third and goal from the one, Fusina asked Bama linebacker Marty Lyons "What do you think we should do?", and Lyons answered "You'd better pass." On third down, Penn State was stopped inches short of the goal line.[18] On fourth down, Penn State was stopped again, Barry Krauss meeting Mike Guman and throwing him back for no gain.[18] Alabama held on for a 14–7 victory.[19][18]
Game results
[edit]| Alabama victories | Penn State victories |
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Losing team | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 19, 1959 | Philadelphia, PA | #12 Penn State | 7 | #10 Alabama | 0 | ||
| 2 | December 31, 1975 | New Orleans, LA | #3 Alabama | 13 | #7 Penn State | 6 | ||
| 3 | January 1, 1979 | New Orleans, LA | #2 Alabama | 14 | #1 Penn State | 7 | ||
| 4 | November 14, 1981 | State College, PA | #6 Alabama | 31 | #5 Penn State | 16 | ||
| 5 | October 9, 1982 | Birmingham, AL | #4 Alabama | 42 | #3 Penn State | 21 | ||
| 6 | October 8, 1983 | State College, PA | Penn State | 34 | #3 Alabama | 28 | ||
| 7 | October 13, 1984 | Tuscaloosa, AL | Alabama | 6 | #11 Penn State | 0 | ||
| 8 | October 12, 1985 | State College, PA | #8 Penn State | 19 | #10 Alabama | 17 | ||
| 9 | October 25, 1986 | Tuscaloosa, AL | #5 Penn State | 23 | #2 Alabama | 3 | ||
| 10 | September 12, 1987 | State College, PA | #19 Alabama | 24 | #11 Penn State | 13 | ||
| 11 | October 22, 1988 | Birmingham, AL | Alabama | 8 | Penn State | 3 | ||
| 12 | October 28, 1989 | State College, PA | #6 Alabama | 17 | #14 Penn State | 16 | ||
| 13 | October 27, 1990 | Tuscaloosa, AL | Penn State | 9 | Alabama | 0 | ||
| 14 | September 11, 2010 | Tuscaloosa, AL | #1 Alabama | 24 | #18 Penn State | 3 | ||
| 15 | September 10, 2011 | State College, PA | #3 Alabama | 27 | #23 Penn State | 11 | ||
| Series: Alabama leads 10–5[1] | ||||||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Winsipedia – Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Penn State Nittany Lions football series history". Winsipedia.
- ^ Ron Bracken (October 27, 1990). "A decade of highs, lows to go out with the Tide". Centre Daily Times. pp. 1D, 3D. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
When you start talking about the great rivalries in college football you've got to put Penn State-Alabama series on the short list.
- ^ Nissenson, Herschel (October 24, 1986). "Penn State-Alabama continues with its championship drama". Gainesville Sun. Associated Press. p. 3C. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ Bill Lumpkin (October 27, 1990). "Intersectional rivalries becoming distant". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. D6. Retrieved December 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Big college rivalry may end". Albuquerque Journal. Associated Press. September 10, 1987. p. C7. Retrieved January 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
Alabama's annual game against Penn State, which has become one of the major intersectional rivalries in college in football, may not be played after 1990
- ^ I.J. Rosenberg (October 24, 1990). "Tide, Lions end an era. Saturday's game marks end of 10-year rivalry for Bama, Penn State". The Atlanta Constitution. p. C5. Retrieved January 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
The series has been one of the nation's most exciting intersectional rivalries.
- ^ Bill Lumpkin (September 9, 1987). "Tide unlikely to extend Penn State series". Birmingham Post-Herald. pp. C1, C4. Retrieved January 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
The Alabama-Penn State game 'has become one of the nation's top intersectional rivalries. No other school in the Southeastern Conference plays a game of such national preminence annually. Neither do many schools around the nation.
- ^ Ron Bracken (October 28, 1989). "Explosive Alabama offense faces stingy Penn State defense". Centre Daily Times. pp. C1, D4. Retrieved January 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
Since 1981 the two schools have met yearly in what has been one of college football's great intersectional rivalries, one which is devoid of animosity and cloaked in mutual respect.
- ^ L.C. Johnson (October 23, 1990). "Penn State-Bama series closes out". Ledger-Enquirer. pp. B1, B3. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Jeff Rice (September 10, 2011). "Lions-Tide series has produced great memories". Centre Daily Times. p. 5. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Michael Casagrande (September 9, 2010). "Bama, PSU rivalry back after 20 years". The Anniston Star. p. 3B. Retrieved December 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Greg Pickel (September 11, 2010). "Renewal of storied series brings out PSU-Tide tales". The Patriot-News. p. 11. Retrieved December 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Lynn, Britton (September 9, 2010). "Penn State rivalry goes far back". The Crimson White. Tuscaloosa, AL. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ Davis, Rece (September 8, 2011). "Alabama, Penn State renew rivalry of respect". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
- ^ Zenor, John (September 9, 2010). "Alabama-PSU rivalry has produced classic moments". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ Land, Charles (December 20, 1959). "Penn State outplays Crimson Tide, 7–0". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
- ^ Wilson, Austin (January 1, 1976). "Sugar Bowl is sweet for Alabama". The Gadsden Times. AP. p. 17. Retrieved January 19, 2011 – via Google News.
- ^ a b c d Dodds, Tracy (January 2, 1979). "Penn State fails to hold back the Tide". The Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, WI. Retrieved November 13, 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Ron Musselman (September 10, 2010). "Not easily forgotten". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E5. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.