Penn State football: 5 best seasons in Nittany Lions history, ranked

Penn State football goes undefeated but robbed of title try in 1994.

In terms of offensive greatness, the 1994 Penn State Football team takes the crown. In 1994 the Nittany Lions averaged an astounding 47 points per game on their way to an undefeated season that included a Big Ten Title in just their second year in the conference. During this season, the Nittany Lions took down four ranked opponents, USC, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon by a combined score of 170 to 72.

Quarterback Kerry Collins, running back Ki-Jana Carter, wide receivers Bobby Engram and Joe Jurevicius and tight end Kyle Brady represented one of the most talented offenses in Penn State football history.

It should have been enough to compete for a national championship.

But once again, the Nittany Lions found themselves with no national championship despite going undefeated and winning not only the Rose Bowl but also the program’s first conference championship ever. This was all because of the Bowl Coalition, in which Penn State was not a member, giving Nebraska sole ownership as the 1994 national champion.

But for this season, Penn State fans know what had been accomplished that year and while it is unclaimed, 1994 is considered by most Nittany Lion fans as their most recent national title.