2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
American college football season
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The 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by third-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the Big Ten East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They lost to Pitt and Michigan in early September but then had a winning streak that included signature victories over Ohio State and Wisconsin en route to a Big Ten championship. Despite their Big Ten title, the Nittany Lions just missed a playoff berth. They represented the Big Ten in the 2017 Rose Bowl, losing to USC on a last-second game winning field goal.
| 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football | |
|---|---|
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| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| East Division | |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 7 |
| AP | No. 7 |
| Record | 11–3 (8–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Joe Moorhead (1st season) |
| Offensive scheme | Spread |
| Defensive coordinator | Brent Pry (1st season) |
| Co-defensive coordinator | Tim Banks (1st season) |
| Base defense | 4–3 |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Beaver Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 7 Penn State xy$ | 8 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 6 Ohio State x^ | 8 | – | 1 | 11 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10 Michigan | 7 | – | 2 | 10 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 4 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maryland | 3 | – | 6 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutgers | 0 | – | 9 | 2 | – | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Wisconsin xy | 7 | – | 2 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 6 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nebraska | 6 | – | 3 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 5 | – | 4 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 5 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 2 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 1 | – | 8 | 3 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship: Penn State 38, Wisconsin 31 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
Penn State announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consisted of seven home and five away games in the regular season. The Nittany Lions hosted Big Ten foes Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Ohio State, and traveled to Indiana, Michigan, Purdue, and Rutgers.[1]
The team hosted two of the three non-conference games against the Kent State Golden Flashes from the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and the Temple Owls from the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | 3:30 p.m. | Kent State* | BTN | W 33–13 | 94,378 | ||
| September 10 | 12:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh* | ESPN | L 39–42 | 69,983 | ||
| September 17 | 12:00 p.m. | Temple* |
| BTN | W 34–27 | 100,420 | |
| September 24 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 4 Michigan | ABC | L 10–49 | 110,319 | ||
| October 1 | 3:30 p.m. | Minnesota |
| BTN | W 29–26 OT | 95,332 | |
| October 8 | 12:00 p.m. | Maryland |
| BTN | W 38–14 | 100,778 | |
| October 22 | 8:00 p.m. | No. 2 Ohio State |
| ABC | W 24–21 | 107,280 | |
| October 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at Purdue | No. 24 | ABC/ESPN2 | W 62–24 | 33,157 | |
| November 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Iowa | No. 12 |
| BTN | W 41–14 | 106,194 |
| November 12 | 12:00 p.m. | at Indiana | No. 10 | ABC/ESPN2 | W 45–31 | 40,678 | |
| November 19 | 8:00 p.m. | at Rutgers | No. 8 | BTN | W 39–0 | 51,366 | |
| November 26 | 3:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 7 |
| ESPN | W 45–12 | 97,418 |
| December 3 | 8:00 p.m. | vs. No. 6 Wisconsin | No. 7 | FOX | W 38–31 | 65,018 | |
| January 2, 2017 | 5:00 p.m. | vs. No. 9 USC* | No. 5 |
| ESPN | L 49–52 | 95,128 |
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Rankings
Game summaries
Kent State
Kent State vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Penn State | 6 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 3
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C); sunny and clear
- Game attendance: 94,378
- Referee: Greg Blum
- TV announcers (BTN): Scott Graham, Chuck Long
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Pittsburgh
Penn State vs. Pittsburgh – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State | 7 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 39 |
| Pittsburgh | 14 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 42 |
at Heinz Field • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 10
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C); partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 69,983
- Referee: Jerry McGinn
- TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Temple
Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple | 7 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| Penn State | 14 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 34 |
at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 17
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C); mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 100,420
- Referee: Mike Roche
- TV announcers (BTN): Eric Collins, Glen Mason, Rick Pizzo
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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No. 4 Michigan
Penn State vs. Michigan – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| #4 Michigan | 14 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 49 |
at Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Date: September 24
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C); mostly sunny
- Game attendance: 110,319
- Referee: Daniel Capron
- TV announcers (ABC): Dave Flemming, Brian Griese, Todd McShay
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Minnesota
Minnesota vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 3 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 26 |
| Penn State | 0 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 29 |
at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 1
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C); cloudy, showers
- Game attendance: 95,332
- Referee: Don Willard
- TV announcers (BTN): Brandon Gaudin, Chuck Long
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Maryland
Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Penn State | 7 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 38 |
at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 8
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C); rain, mostly cloudy
- Game attendance: 100,778
- Referee: John O'Neill
- TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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No. 2 Ohio State
Ohio State vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 Ohio State | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 21 |
| Penn State | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C); cold, windy, brisk
- Game attendance: 107,280
- Referee: Michael Cannon
- TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Sam Ponder
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Purdue
Penn State vs. Purdue – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #24 Penn State | 7 | 10 | 24 | 21 | 62 |
| Purdue | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C); partly sunny
- Game attendance: 33,157
- Referee: Jeff Servinski
- TV announcers (ABC/ESPN2): Beth Mowins, Anthony Becht, Rocky Boiman
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Iowa
Iowa vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| #20 Penn State | 7 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 41 |
at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
- Date: November 5
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C); clear, pleasant
- Game attendance: 106,194
- Referee: Ron Snodgrass
- TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Indiana
Penn State vs. Indiana – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #12 Penn State | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 45 |
| Indiana | 0 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
at Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, Indiana
- Date: November 12
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C); sunny
- Game attendance: 40,678
- Referee: Michael Cannon
- TV announcers (ABC/ESPN2): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Rutgers
Penn State vs. Rutgers – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 Penn State | 6 | 3 | 16 | 14 | 39 |
| Rutgers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at High Point Solutions Stadium • Piscataway, New Jersey
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C); cloudy, rain later, wind
- Game attendance: 51,366
- Referee: Don Willard
- TV announcers (BTN): Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen, Lisa Byington
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Michigan State
Michigan State vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| #8 Penn State | 0 | 10 | 21 | 14 | 45 |
at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania
- Date: November 26
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C); cold, cloudy
- Game attendance: 97,418
- Referee: John O'Neill
- TV announcers (ESPN): Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard, Allison Williams
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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No. 6 Wisconsin—Big Ten Championship Game
Wisconsin vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 Wisconsin | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 31 |
| #8 Penn State | 7 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 38 |
at Lucas Oil Stadium • Indianapolis, Indiana
- Date: December 3
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. ET
- Game weather: indoors, roof closed
- Game attendance: 65,018
- Referee: Michael Cannon
- TV announcers (Fox): Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Shannon Spake
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
No. 9 USC—Rose Bowl
USC vs. Penn State – Game summary
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #9 USC | 13 | 14 | 8 | 17 | 52 |
| #5 Penn State | 0 | 21 | 28 | 0 | 49 |
at Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California
- Date: January 2, 2017
- Game time: 5:00 p.m. ET
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C); cloudy
- Game attendance: 95,128
- Referee: Duane Heydt
- TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Samantha Ponder
- ESPN Box Score, GoPSUsports.com
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Personnel
Coaching staff
| Position | Name | Alma mater |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | James Franklin[3] | East Stroudsburg (1994) |
| Defensive coordinator/linebackers | Brent Pry | Buffalo (1993) |
| Offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks | Joe Moorhead | Fordham University (1995) |
| Safeties/co-defensive coordinator | Tim Banks | Central Michigan University (1994) |
| Running backs/special teams coordinator | Charles Huff[4] | Hampton (2005) |
| Tight ends/passing game coordinator | Ricky Rahne[4] | Cornell (2002) |
| Wide Receivers/offensive recruiting coordinator | Josh Gattis[4] | Wake Forest (2006) |
| Cornerbacks/defensive recruiting coordinator | Terry Smith[4] | Penn State (1991) |
| Offensive line | Matt Limegrover | University of Chicago (1990) |
| Defensive line/run game coordinator | Sean Spencer[4] | Clarion (1995) |
| Strength and conditioning | Dwight Galt[4] | Maryland (1981) |
| Graduate assistant | Joe Brady IV | College of William & Mary (2013) |
| Graduate assistant | Tommy Galt | Maryland (2009) |
| Graduate assistant | Andrew Jackson | LIU Post (2011) |
| Graduate assistant | Ryan Smith | College of William & Mary (2014) |
Roster
| 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Awards and honors
Players
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Coaches
| Coach | Award | Date Awarded | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Franklin | Dave McClain Coach of the Year (media vote) | November 22, 2016 | |
| James Franklin | Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year | December 7, 2016 | [16] |