Signature Win, All Time.

[Chumboshifko1]

Penn State 48-14

Pitt 13-9 LMAO, against an injured WVU Team. Writes a book about the fluke like it was something great.

It wasn't.

 

[Nits1989]

14-10 Miami Fiesta Bowl

 

[Catch1lion]

AK's win, even if on the LIV circuit was something. Beating Rahm and Bryson among others was quite an accomplishment this weekend.

 

[Shep]

A. Kim sat out of golf intentionally to collect a massive insurance policy he was able to collect because of a golfing injury. He was super talented at the time he was injured, but as he healed, he made what NFL D backs call "a financial decision".

Does his victory say more about him, or the status of LIV golf?

 

[psuro]

Signature wins

1. 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team vs USSR
2. Chaminade vs UVA, 1983
3. Villanova vs Georgetown for Men's Basketball National Championship, 1985
4. Penn State vs Georgia, 1983 Sugar Bowl
5. Roger Bannister vs. the 4 minute mile, 1954.
6. Ali vs Sonny Liston, 1964.
7. Miami vs Nebraska, 1984 Orange Bowl.
8. Indiana vs Miami, 2026 College Football National Championship
9. Flyers vs. Soviet Red Army Hockey Team, 1976
10. Vanderbilt vs. Alabama, 2024

 

[Indian rocks rich]

January 12 1969. JETS over 16 pt underdog

 

[OptionBob]

Personal bias here, I admit, but my choice for the most important victory for Penn State football is the 1972 Cotton Bowl win over Texas. Why?

1. Needed payback for 1969's "political" national title choice by Dick Nixon. Texas sprouted bumper stickers in burnt orange blaring "Penn State -- #2." Routing the Longhorns 30-6 in Dallas made a definitive statement that Penn State football was truly legitimate.

2. Those who think the 1986 Lion defense was great should check out the 1969 Mike Reid-Dennis Onkotz crew. The fact the 1971 defense totally dominated the UT Wishbone showed the world what Nittany Lion football was made of. And it proved to us Penn State fans that the 1969 defense would have been even more stifling given the opportunity to face the Texas offense.

3. After losing 31-11 to Tennessee on national TV, Penn State was derided as just another Eastern pretender. Had the Lions lost by any score to Texas, it would have taken many years to generate due respect nationally.

 

[DaytonRickster]

Signature wins

1. 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team vs USSR
2. Chaminade vs UVA, 1983
3. Villanova vs Georgetown for Men's Basketball National Championship, 1985
4. Penn State vs Georgia, 1983 Sugar Bowl
5. Roger Bannister vs. the 4 minute mile, 1954.
6. Ali vs Sonny Liston, 1964.
7. Miami vs Nebraska, 1984 Orange Bowl.
8. Indiana vs Miami, 2026 College Football National Championship
9. Flyers vs. Soviet Red Army Hockey Team, 1976
10. Vanderbilt vs. Alabama, 2024

Like the list but not sure about the order.

 

[pap]

Personal bias here, I admit, but my choice for the most important victory for Penn State football is the 1972 Cotton Bowl win over Texas. Why?

1. Needed payback for 1969's "political" national title choice by Dick Nixon. Texas sprouted bumper stickers in burnt orange blaring "Penn State -- #2." Routing the Longhorns 30-6 in Dallas made a definitive statement that Penn State football was truly legitimate.

2. Those who think the 1986 Lion defense was great should check out the 1969 Mike Reid-Dennis Onkotz crew. The fact the 1971 defense totally dominated the UT Wishbone showed the world what Nittany Lion football was made of. And it proved to us Penn State fans that the 1969 defense would have been even more stifling given the opportunity to face the Texas offense.

3. After losing 31-11 to Tennessee on national TV, Penn State was derided as just another Eastern pretender. Had the Lions lost by any score to Texas, it would have taken many years to generate due respect nationally.

With due respect to the 86 lion D , it 's not even close to that D that helped that team to it's 33 and 0 win streak . That D was ferocious

 

[Bison13]

Signature wins

1. 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team vs USSR
2. Chaminade vs UVA, 1983
3. Villanova vs Georgetown for Men's Basketball National Championship, 1985
4. Penn State vs Georgia, 1983 Sugar Bowl
5. Roger Bannister vs. the 4 minute mile, 1954.
6. Ali vs Sonny Liston, 1964.
7. Miami vs Nebraska, 1984 Orange Bowl.
8. Indiana vs Miami, 2026 College Football National Championship
9. Flyers vs. Soviet Red Army Hockey Team, 1976
10. Vanderbilt vs. Alabama, 2024

sugar bowl over Fiesta Bowl?

 

[psuro]

Like the list but not sure about the order.

It was the order they popped into my head. Nothing more than that.

 

[psuro]

sugar bowl over Fiesta Bowl?

they are in the order they popped into my head. Not ranked.

 

[OKLALionsFan]

I’ll throw in for consideration:
Pirates over the Yankees in game 7 of the 1960 Workd Series.
Johnny Miller’s 63 on Sunday at Oakmont to win the 1973 U.S. Open. I believe this is still the record low score for a final round at the U S Open.

 

[OKLALionsFan]

sugar bowl over Fiesta Bowl?

Fiesta win > Sugar although both were Sweeeeet.

 

[kgilbert78]

I’ll throw in for consideration:
Pirates over the Yankees in game 7 of the 1960 Workd Series.
Johnny Miller’s 63 on Sunday at Oakmont to win the 1973 U.S. Open. I believe this is still the record low score for a final round at the U S Open.

Jack's last Masters is up there.....

 

[johnmpsu]

Penn State over Nebraska in 1982.

 

[m.knox]

The Drive.................... Preserved a perfect season.

 

[Anon225117]

The Orange Bowl win over Kansas. It was the beginning for many us. Undefeated season culminating in a breathtaking finish.

Nebraska in 1982 was kind of the beginning of a new era. The fans had lost confidence that we could compete with the top teams. I remember many people saying the game had passed Joe by.

Miami for the NC will always be legendary. I guess it depends how you define signature.

OSU in 2005 was a watershed moment for game experience. We suddenly became the best crowd in football. You can’t discount the impact on our program.

 

[leinbacker]

Obviously Northwestern's win in 2025.

 

[ChandlerPearce58]

Personal bias here, I admit, but my choice for the most important victory for Penn State football is the 1972 Cotton Bowl win over Texas. Why?

1. Needed payback for 1969's "political" national title choice by Dick Nixon. Texas sprouted bumper stickers in burnt orange blaring "Penn State -- #2." Routing the Longhorns 30-6 in Dallas made a definitive statement that Penn State football was truly legitimate.

2. Those who think the 1986 Lion defense was great should check out the 1969 Mike Reid-Dennis Onkotz crew. The fact the 1971 defense totally dominated the UT Wishbone showed the world what Nittany Lion football was made of. And it proved to us Penn State fans that the 1969 defense would have been even more stifling given the opportunity to face the Texas offense.

3. After losing 31-11 to Tennessee on national TV, Penn State was derided as just another Eastern pretender. Had the Lions lost by any score to Texas, it would have taken many years to generate due respect nationally.

I remember the TV announcers patronizing Texas as the greatest team to ever play the sport...how after halftime UT would completely dominate this Eastern nobody and win big! Well....that is why you play the game....and PSU was the better team, better coached, and better character!

 

[Chumboshifko1]

69 the continues. 69 = ,.

 

[Bob2022]

Personal bias here, I admit, but my choice for the most important victory for Penn State football is the 1972 Cotton Bowl win over Texas. Why?

1. Needed payback for 1969's "political" national title choice by Dick Nixon. Texas sprouted bumper stickers in burnt orange blaring "Penn State -- #2." Routing the Longhorns 30-6 in Dallas made a definitive statement that Penn State football was truly legitimate.

2. Those who think the 1986 Lion defense was great should check out the 1969 Mike Reid-Dennis Onkotz crew. The fact the 1971 defense totally dominated the UT Wishbone showed the world what Nittany Lion football was made of. And it proved to us Penn State fans that the 1969 defense would have been even more stifling given the opportunity to face the Texas offense.

3. After losing 31-11 to Tennessee on national TV, Penn State was derided as just another Eastern pretender. Had the Lions lost by any score to Texas, it would have taken many years to generate due respect nationally.

Agreed, that was the first game I thought of. Still that Tennessee game was crushing.

 

[OptionBob]

Agreed, that was the first game I thought of. Still that Tennessee game was crushing.

I remember watching that game, the first one televised here in Texas. I had listened to the 66-14 TCU win on the radio.

What was a nightmare was the way Tennessee scored: a punt return TD, an interception return TD, a fumble return TD, and a 1-yd run following yet another PSU turnover at the Lion 15.

Penn State out-gained the Vols both rushing and passing, yet lost by 20. It was a devastating loss, especially after losing on national TV in 1970 to Colorado to end the winning/non-losing streak.

Beating Texas was H U G E for the program. Joe Paterno never lost a game in the Lone Star State during his illustrious career as HC. And I was at all them.

 

[s1uggo72]

Northeast 2x

 

[Bob2022]

I remember watching that game, the first one televised here in Texas. I had listened to the 66-14 TCU win on the radio.

What was a nightmare was the way Tennessee scored: a punt return TD, an interception return TD, a fumble return TD, and a 1-yd run following yet another PSU turnover at the Lion 15.

Penn State out-gained the Vols both rushing and passing, yet lost by 20. It was a devastating loss, especially after losing on national TV in 1970 to Colorado to end the winning/non-losing streak.

Beating Texas was H U G E for the program. Joe Paterno never lost a game in the Lone Star State during his illustrious career as HC. And I was at all them.

 

[Bob2022]

And if I’m remembering correctly, didn’t Tennessee beat PSU the first game of the next season, just to rub it in. I think 28-21?

 

[NittanyBuff]

A. Kim sat out of golf intentionally to collect a massive insurance policy he was able to collect because of a golfing injury. He was super talented at the time he was injured, but as he healed, he made what NFL D backs call "a financial decision".

Does his victory say more about him, or the status of LIV golf?

People can hate on LIV all they want, but plenty of talent over there. Loved the AK win, talked to him at LIV even last year in VA, good dude.

 

[NittanyBuff]

Of all the sporting events I've ever watched in my lifetime, The US victory over Russia still the greatest.

 

[OptionBob]

And if I’m remembering correctly, didn’t Tennessee beat PSU the first game of the next season, just to rub it in. I think 28-21?

That game was not on national TV, Bob, so I've got to go my memory here (always risky for my old brain).

The game should have been played at Beaver Stadium since the 1971 game was at Tennessee. If I remember correctly, the Vols told Joe that they would install lights so that the game could be played at night. I don't recall why Joe/PSU didn't insist on a home-and-home set. But Tennessee did set up lights and the game was played at night.

Penn State fell behind 21-0 at the half but rallied to make it a 1-score game in the 4th quarter, losing as you said 28-21.

Joe settled those scores in subsequent Bowl games versus Tennessee, beating the Vols in the Fiesta, Citrus, and Outback bowls.

 

[SleepyLion]

Me... meeting my future wife. March 2001.

 

[CVLion]

Da Bears over the Pats, 46-10

 

[creamery freak]

Signature wins

1. 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team vs USSR
2. Chaminade vs UVA, 1983
3. Villanova vs Georgetown for Men's Basketball National Championship, 1985
4. Penn State vs Georgia, 1983 Sugar Bowl
5. Roger Bannister vs. the 4 minute mile, 1954.
6. Ali vs Sonny Liston, 1964.
7. Miami vs Nebraska, 1984 Orange Bowl.
8. Indiana vs Miami, 2026 College Football National Championship
9. Flyers vs. Soviet Red Army Hockey Team, 1976
10. Vanderbilt vs. Alabama, 2024

Another one would be Jimmy V's, NC State over Houston on Lorenzo Charles last second put back dunk for a Natty in 83.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

The 1980 Olympic team is definitely in the top five.