Penn State Nittany Lions football statistical leaders
The Penn State Nittany Lions football statistical leaders are statistical leaders of the Penn State Nittany Lions football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, kicking and overall team performance. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, career leaders and all time records. The Nittany Lions represent Pennsylvania State University in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.
Although Penn State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1887,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1970. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since 1970, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002,[2] allowing players in most seasons since then an extra game to accumulate statistics.
Starting in 2018 a redshirted player was allowed to play in up to 4 games in a season and still maintain their status allowing players to gain an extra season of statistics.
Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.[3]
In official NCAA records, "touchdowns responsible for" includes rushing and passing touchdowns, but not receptions or returns—the same statistical categories used to measure total offense.[25]
^ ab"2017 Penn State Football Yearbook". GoPSUSports.com. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
^"NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
^Cobb, David (August 21, 2020). "NCAA approves blanket waiver for 2020 fall sports athletes to retain year of eligibility". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrs"Sean Clifford". ESPN.com.
^ ab"Penn State stuns UCF, wins opener on Sam Ficken's game-winning FG". ESPN.com. August 30, 2014.
^ abcd"Villanova vs. Penn State Box Score". ESPN.com. September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
^"Penn State vs. Maryland Box Score". ESPN.com. September 27, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
^"No. 7 Penn St. rallies to beat No. 6 Wisconsin 38-31". ESPN.com. December 4, 2016.
^ abcde"Penn State beats Michigan State to reach Big Ten title game". ESPN.com. November 26, 2016.
^ ab"PSU edges BC on game-winning extra point in OT to win Pinstripe Bowl". ESPN.com. December 31, 2014.
^ abc"Ohio State vs. Penn State Box Score". ESPN.com. October 29, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
^ ab"USC hits FG at gun, beats Penn State 52-49 in epic Rose Bowl". ESPN.com. January 2, 2017.
^"Iowa vs. Penn State Box Score". ESPN.com. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
^"Penn State vs. Maryland Box Score". ESPN.com. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
^"Pitt holds off Penn State rally to win 42-39". ESPN.com. September 10, 2016.
^ abcdef"Jahan Dotson". ESPN.com.
^ ab"Parker Washington". ESPN.com.
^"Ohio State blows 17-point lead, rebounds to beat Penn State in 2OT". ESPN.com. October 26, 2014.
^"Michigan State takes division with rout of Penn State". ESPN.com. November 28, 2016.
^"Penn State vs. Ohio State Box Score". ESPN.com. October 30, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.