2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Joe Paterno and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.

2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Big Ten co-champion
Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy
Rose Bowl, L 24–38 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 8
2008 record11–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGalen Hall
Defensive coordinatorTom Bradley
Captains
Home stadiumBeaver Stadium
(Capacity: 107,282)
2008 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 8 Penn State $+  7 –1     11 –2  
No. 9 Ohio State %+  7 –1     10 –3  
No. 24 Michigan State  6 –2     9 –4  
Northwestern  5 –3     9 –4  
No. 20 Iowa  5 –3     9 –4  
Wisconsin  3 –5     7 –6  
Minnesota  3 –5     7 –6  
Illinois  3 –5     5 –7  
Purdue  2 –6     4 –8  
Michigan  2 –6     3 –9  
Indiana  1 –7     3 –9  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • % – BCS at-large representative
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous season

The 2007 season began with the Nittany Lions ranked No. 17 in the AP and No. 18 in the Coaches' preseason polls, ranked as high as No. 10 at one point. The team dropped out of the rankings with back to back losses to Michigan and Illinois, regained a poll ranking after consecutive blowouts, then dropped out of the polls again after losing to Ohio State, but finished the season ranked No. 25 in the Coaches Poll with a final record of 9–4, including a victory over the Texas A&M Aggies in the 2007 Alamo Bowl.

Preseason

Prior to the end of the previous season, linebacker Sean Lee announced his plans to return for his senior season.[1] However, Lee tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during practice and was sidelined for the entire season. Lee used his available redshirt and plans to return in 2009.[2]

In January, junior cornerback Justin King announced that he was going to declare for the 2008 NFL Draft, skipping his final year of eligibility. King had graduated the previous semester with a degree in liberal arts with an emphasis in sports management. According to King's stepfather and high school coach, "He wanted to get an education and a degree from Penn State, which he did. He wanted to help turn Penn State around, and he did that, too."[3]

Despite the injury, Lee was named one of the team's captains for 2008.[2] Also elected captains by their teammates were center A. Q. Shipley, receiver Derrick Williams, safety Anthony Scirrotto and defensive end Josh Gaines. All five are seniors.[4]

Recruiting class

The Nittany Lions received 14 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 6, 2008.

Spring practice

A record crowd of 73,000 fans attended the annual Blue-White scrimmage at Beaver Stadium on April 19, surpassing the previous year's record of 71,000. The Blue squad won 27–14.[5] Redshirt freshman running back Stephfon Green opened up the scoring for White, taking his first handoff 57 yards for a touchdown. Green finished the game with 87 yards on 12 carries, a 7.2 yard per carry average. Tight end Andrew Szczerba was the game's leading receiver, catching five passes for 65 yards in the first half.

In the quarterback competition, both Daryll Clark and Pat Devlin rotated between the first, second and third teams. Overall, Clark finished 9 of 16 for 106 yards and two scores, including a 33-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Williams. Devlin was 12 of 18 for 122 yards and a 22-yard touchdown pass to backup receiver Graham Zug.

On defense, sophomore Aaron Maybin tied for a game-high six tackles, including 3.5 sacks for the White team. Sophomore Ollie Ogbu led the Blue with six tackles and two sacks. Redshirt freshman linebacker Nate Stupar also had six tackles. Sophomore linebacker Chris Colasanti had four stops and forced and recovered a fumble.[6]

Suspensions

Five players were suspended prior to spring drills for their involvement in an October 7 fight at the HUB-Robeson Center during the previous season, including defensive tackle Chris Baker, linebacker NaVorro Bowman, defensive back Knowledge Timmons, defensive tackle Phil Taylor, and receiver Chris Bell.[7] Tight end Andrew Quarless became the sixth player suspended after a DUI incident in March.[8] Bell was later kicked off the team after brandishing a knife at a teammate.[9]

Following spring practice, Baker, Bowman, Quarless, Timmons and Taylor were allowed to rejoin and work out with the team.[10] Baker was sentenced to two years probation.[11]

ESPN's Outside the Lines aired a story on the legal troubles of the Penn State football team on July 27, 2008.[12] The story detailed the increased number of PSU football players that have been arrested during the past few years. Among the statistics presented in the story was that 46 different players since 2002 have been charged with a combined 163 counts that have resulted in 27 players pleading guilty to 45 crimes.[13] Three days after the story aired, Paterno dismissed Baker and Taylor, apparently after another off-campus incident.[14]

Pre-season awards

Schedule

Penn State did not play Big Ten teams Northwestern and Minnesota this year.

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3012:00 p.m.[19]Coastal Carolina*No. 22
BTN[19]W 66–10106,577
September 63:30 p.m.[20]Oregon State[21]*No. 19
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ABC/ESPN2[20]W 45–14108,159
September 133:30 p.m.[22]at Syracuse*No. 17
ABC[22]W 55–1345,795
September 2012:00 p.m.[19]Temple[23]*No. 16
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTN[19]W 45–3105,106
September 278:00 p.m.[24]No. 22 IllinoisNo. 12
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ABC[25]W 38–24109,626
October 412:00 p.m.[26]at PurdueNo. 6
ESPN[27]W 20–657,215
October 118:00 p.m.[24]at WisconsinNo. 6
ESPN[28]W 48–781,524
October 184:30 p.m.[24]MichiganNo. 3
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
ESPN[29]W 46–17110,017
October 258:00 p.m.[24]at No. 10 Ohio StateNo. 3
ABC[30]W 13–6105,711
November 83:30 p.m.[31]at IowaNo. 3
ABC[31]L 23–2470,585
November 1512:00 p.m.[32]IndianaNo. 7
  • Beaver Stadium
  • University Park, PA
BTN[32]W 34–7108,447
November 223:30 p.m.[33]No. 17 Michigan StateNo. 7
ABC[33]W 49–18109,845
January 1, 20095:10 p.m.[34]vs. No. 5 USC[34]*No. 6
ABC[34]L 24–3893,293
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Roster
2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 2 Derrick Williams (C) Sr
WR 3 Deon Butler  Sr
QB 4 John Kelly Fr
WR 5 Graham Zug  So
WR 6 Derek Moye  Fr
WR 8 James McDonald  Jr
WR 9 Kevin Cousins  Jr
TE 10 Andrew Quarless Jr
QB 11 Matthew McGloin Fr
WR 12 Chaz Powell Fr
WR 14 A.J. Price Fr
QB 15 Paul Cianciolo  Sr
QB 16 Shane McGregor Fr
QB 17 Daryll Clark  Jr
WR 18 Andrew Goodman Fr
WR 20 Devin Fentress  Sr
RB 21 Stephfon Green  Fr
RB 22 Evan Royster  So
WR 24 Jordan Norwood  Sr
RB 25 Brandon Beachum Fr
WR 26 J.D. Mason Fr
WR 29 Ryan Scherer Fr
RB 32 Brent Carter  So
FB 33 Dan Lawler  Sr
RB 37 Joe Suhey  Fr
WR 38 Stephen Joseph  Fr
RB 39 Derek Day Fr
FB 44 Larry Federoff  Jr
WR 49 Larry Ryland Fr
G 50 Mike Lucian Sr
OL 54 Matt Stankiewitch Fr
C 57 A.Q. Shipley (C) Sr
OL 60 Terry James Fr
G 61 Stefen Wisniewski So
G 64 Rich Ohrnberger Sr
G 65 J.B. Walton  Fr
C 66 Ethan Hull Fr
G 67 Quinn Barham  Fr
C 68 Doug Klopacz  So
OL 70 Andrew Radakovich Fr
OL 70 Anthony Tortorelli  Fr
T 72 Nerraw McCormack Sr
T 73 Dennis Landolt  Jr
G 74 Johnnie Troutman Fr
T 75 DeOn'tae Pannell Fr
OL 76 Gerald Cadogan Sr
T 77 Lou Eliades  So
OL 78 Mike Farrell Fr
T 79 Ako Poti Sr
TE 80 Andrew Szczerba  Fr
TE 82 Mickey Shuler Jr
WR 83 Brett Brackett So
WR 84 Patrick Mauti  Jr
WR 86 Mark Wedderburn Fr
TE 87 Greg Miskinis Sr
WR 88 Jon Ditto  Fr
TE 97 Gino Raneri Fr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
CB 1 A.J. Wallace Jr
CB 4 Knowledge Timmons  Jr
LB 5 Jerome Hayes Fr
S 7 Anthony Scirrotto (C) Sr
CB 8 D'Anton Lynn Fr
S 9 Mark Rubin  Sr
CB 10 Lydell Sargeant Sr
CB 11 Tony Davis Sr
DB 12 Evan Lewis Fr
LB 13 Andrew Dailey  Fr
LB 15 Bani Gbadyu  So
CB 16 Shelton McCullough  So
LB 18 Navorro Bowman  So
S 19 David Keisling Fr
S 20 Ryan Gmerek  So
LB 22 Shaine Thompson  Fr
S 26 Nick Sukay  Fr
DB 27 Jacob Fagnano Fr
S 28 Drew Astorina  Fr
S 29 Cedric Jeffries  So
LB 30 Josh Matzkin  So
CB 30 John O'Donnell Fr
LB 31 Michael Zordich Fr
LB 33 Michael Yancich Fr
LB 34 Nathan Stupar  Fr
CB 35 Jesse Alfreno  So
LB 35 Ken Pollock Fr
S 36 Kyle Johnson  Fr
S 38 Tyler Ahrenhold  Fr
DE 39 Tom Golarz  Jr
DB 40 Sean Luchnick Fr
LB 42 Michael Mauti Fr
LB 43 Josh Hull Jr
DE 44 Kevion Latham  Fr
LB 45 Sean Lee Jr
LB 46 Tyrell Sales  Sr
DE 47 Josh Gaines (C) Sr
DE 48 Maurice Evans Jr
DE 51 Jonathan Stewart  Fr
LB 52 Brian Irvin Fr
LB 53 Chris Colasanti So
LB 54 James Van Fleet Fr
DT 55 Tom McEowen  So
DE 56 Eric Latimore  Fr
DL 58 Pete Massaro Fr
DE 59 Aaron Maybin  So
DT 71 Devon Still  Fr
DE 81 Jack Crawford Fr
DT 85 Ollie Ogbu  So
DT 91 Jared Odrick Jr
DT 92 Chima Okoli  Fr
DT 93 James Terry  Fr
DL 94 Mikel Berry Fr
DT 95 Abe Koroma  So
DL 97 J.R. Refice Fr
DE 98 Matt Kenney Fr
DT 99 Brandon Ware Fr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 23 Kevin Kelly Sr
K 28 David Soldner Fr
K 36 Collin Wagner  So
LS 40 Andrew Pitz  Jr
P 41 Jeremy Boone  Jr
P 49 Ryan Breen  Fr
LS 56 Michael Fuhrman Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 12, 2008

Coaching staff

Game summaries

August 30: Coastal Carolina
1 2 3 4 Total
Coastal Carolina 0 7 0 3 10
Penn State 14 24 21 7 66
The Penn State defense tackles Coastal Carolina running back Arthur Sitton.

Sophomore tailback Evan Royster ran for three touchdowns and 64 yards on eight carries, and redshirt freshman Stephfon Green gained 89 yards on ten carries including two scores to help the Nittany Lions defeat the Chanticleers of Coastal Carolina 66–10. Penn State has won seven straight season openers. After Trent Usher provided the Chanticleers' lone touchdown on a 33-yard reception to cut Penn State's lead to 14–7 early in the second quarter, Derrick Williams scored on an 89-yard kickoff return en route to a 38–7 halftime lead.

Many reserves saw action in the second half, including Chaz Powell's 55-yard touchdown run, and freshman Brandon Beachum's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Nittany Lions' final touchdown. After Darryl Clark and Pat Devlin split quarterback duties in the first three quarters, Penn State subbed in Paul Cianciolo for the 4th. Coastal Carolina kicked a field goal as time expired for the final score.

Defensively for Penn State, Tyrell Sales led the defense with seven tackles, while Aaron Maybin had two sacks. Bani Gbadyu snagged his first career interception. Twenty-eight Nittany Lions recorded at least one tackle.

The win tied Joe Paterno with Florida State's Bobby Bowden atop the career wins list among major college coaches with his 373rd win.[35]

September 6: Oregon State
1 2 3 4 Total
Oregon State 0 7 0 7 14
Penn State 14 21 10 0 45

In the week leading up to the game, a campus police search turned up a small amount of marijuana in an on-campus apartment home to defensive end Maurice Evans, defensive tackle Abe Koroma, tight end Andrew Quarless and cornerback A. J. Wallace. Coach Paterno later announced that Evans, Koroma and Quarless would not play against Oregon State. Wallace was allowed to return to practice, according to Paterno, "Wallace was not part of that." In an unrelated incident, cornerback Willie Harriott was dismissed from the team.[36]

Despite the off-field distractions, the Nittany Lions rolled to a 35–7 halftime lead en route to a 45–14 win in their first ever meeting with the Beavers. Sophomore tailback Evan Royster ran for a career-high 141 yards on seventeen carries and three touchdowns. Daryll Clark's 276 total yards of offense (215 yards passing, 61 yards rushing) helped Penn State total 454 yards of offense.

Linebackers Tyrell Sales and NaVorro Bowman both recorded ten tackles each, both career-highs. Linebacker Josh Hull and safety Mark Rubin both made their first career interceptions.[37] Junior defensive end Jerome Hayes, making his first career start in place of the suspended Evans, was lost for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Hayes missed the latter half of the 2007 season with a torn ACL in his right knee.[38]

For his performance, Royster was named Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week.[39]

See also: 2008 Oregon State Beavers football team

September 13: Syracuse
1 2 3 4 Total
Penn State 21 17 10 7 55
Syracuse 0 6 7 0 13

The Nittany Lions defeated their old rivals 55–13 in their first meeting since the series was last played in 1990. Each of Penn State's three quarterbacks threw touchdown passes. Daryll Clark finished 10 of 21 for 163 yards and two touchdowns, Pat Devlin was 8 of 13 for 130 yards and two touchdowns, and Paul Cianciolo was 2 of 4 for 51 yards and a score. Receivers Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler both had over 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns apiece. Kevin Kelly kicked a 52-yard field goal just before halftime, the second-longest of his career, and backup kicker Collin Wagner kicked a 43-yard field goal late in the third quarter, his first career field goal.

The Nittany Lion defense held the Orange offense without a first down until early in the second quarter.[40]

See also: 2008 Syracuse Orange football team

September 20: Temple
1 2 3 4 Total
Temple 0 0 3 0 3
Penn State 0 31 7 7 45

After a scoreless first quarter, the Nittany Lions scored three touchdowns in the first six minutes of the second quarter en route to a 31–0 halftime lead. The Penn State defense held the Owls to only 138 yards of total offense, including only 16 yards on the ground. In contrast, the Nittany Lions totaled 546 of offense, highlighted by Stephfon Green's 132 rushing yards including a 69-yard touchdown.[41]

Sophomore linebacker NaVorro Bowman, in his first start, recorded eleven tackles, including five tackles for loss and three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. Bowman was named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week.[42]

The win, combined with Florida State's loss to Wake Forest, gave Paterno sole possession of the career record for most wins by a Division I FBS coach.[43]

September 27: Illinois
1 2 3 4 Total
Illinois 14 0 3 7 24
Penn State 14 7 3 14 38

The Nittany Lions defeated the Fighting Illini 38–24 in a nationally televised, prime time, "White Out" game, earning their first win over a ranked opponent this season and their first victory over a ranked opponent in a conference opener since joining the Big Ten. Illinois jumped out to a 14–7 lead, becoming the first team to take a lead on the Nittany Lions and the first to score points against them in the first quarter this season. However, the Nittany Lions responded with two touchdowns en route to a 21–14 halftime lead. The Illini wouldn't score again until kicking a field goal on the final play of the third quarter after recovering a Stephfon Green fumble, but Derrick Williams returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. Penn State was 4 of 4 in the red zone and was penalized only once for 10 yards.

The Illini's 24 points were the most allowed by Penn State this season as were their 189 total rushing yards.[44]

Derrick Williams is the first player under Paterno to score a rushing, receiving, and a kick return touchdown in the same game.[44][45] His career-high 241 all-purpose yards (33 rushing, 75 receiving and 133 on kick returns) are the most by a Nittany Lion since Larry Johnson gained 289 yards versus Michigan State in 2002.[46] Williams was selected the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.[47]

See also: 2008 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

October 4: Purdue
1 2 3 4 Total
Penn State 0 10 7 3 20
Purdue 0 0 0 6 6

Penn State defeated the Boilermakers 20–6 in their last matchup against Purdue coach Joe Tiller, who is retiring after this season. The Nittany Lions outgained Purdue 422 to 241 in total offense.

Daryll Clark completed 18 of 26 passes for 226 yards and a ran for a touchdown—a quarterback sneak on 4th-and-goal in the second quarter for the first points of the game. Running back Evan Royster ran for 141 yards and a touchdown and also caught four passes for 53 yards.

Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter finished 13 of 22 for 112 yards but was replaced by backup Joey Elliott after throwing an interception to Nittany Lions safety Drew Astorino. Purdue kicker Chris Summers missed all three of his kick attempts—two field goal attempts and an extra point attempt. Running back Kory Sheets' fourth-quarter touchdown on Purdue's last possession of the game was Purdue's first offensive touchdown against Penn State since 2005.[48]

See also: 2008 Purdue Boilermakers football team

October 11: Wisconsin
1 2 3 4 Total
Penn State 3 21 17 7 48
Wisconsin 0 7 0 0 7

Daryll Clark ran for two touchdowns and threw for one to Deon Butler in Penn State's 48–7 win over the Badgers in Camp Randall Stadium, handing them their worst home loss since 1989. Derrick Williams returned a punt for a touchdown, Evan Royster and backup quarterback Pat Devlin scored touchdowns on short runs, and Kevin Kelly kicked two field goals for the Nittany Lions.[49][50] Penn State was penalized only once for 10 yards.

Clark was 16 of 25 passing for a career-high 244 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for a pair of scores for the first time in his career. He was named Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Week.[51]

Defensive end Aaron Maybin, making only his fifth career start, was named Big Ten's Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Maybin recorded six tackles, a career-high 3.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, two forced fumbles and a pass break-up. Maybin also stripped Badgers quarterback Allen Evridge late in the first half deep in Badgers territory, which was recovered by linebacker Josh Hull.[51] Lydell Sargeant intercepted two passes, his first interceptions of the season.[52]

See also: 2008 Wisconsin Badgers football team

October 18: Michigan
1 2 3 4 Total
Michigan 10 7 0 0 17
Penn State 7 7 12 20 46

In front of the fourth-largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history, the Nittany Lions ended a nine-game losing streak to the Wolverines, dating back to 1997. Michigan tallied 204 yards of offense and scored on their first three possessions to take a 17–7 lead early in the second quarter. Daryll Clark's touchdown pass to Jordan Norwood late in the first half cut Michigan's lead to 17–14. Despite trailing at halftime for the first time this season, the Nittany Lion offense would outscore the Wolverines 32–0 in the second half and the defense made key halftime adjustments to limit the Wolverines to only 87 yards the remainder of the game.

Clark finished 18 of 31 for 171 yards and a touchdown and also ran for 45 yards and two one-yard touchdowns, but lost a fumble on Penn State's second drive which led to a Wolverine field goal. Evan Royster ran for a career-high 174 yards on eighteen carries for a 9.7 yard per carry average, including a 44-yard touchdown for Penn State's first points. Deon Butler had a season-high eight receptions for 105 yards, his fourth-career 100-yard game. Stephfon Green took a screen pass from Pat Devlin and outran the Wolverines defense 80 yards for the Nittany Lions' final score.

Linebacker NaVorro Bowman led the defense with eleven tackles. Defensive tackle Jared Odrick made a career-high six stops, with 2.5 tackles for loss, but his biggest play occurred with 4:39 remaining in the third quarter when he sacked Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan, who was playing in place of the injured Steven Threet, in the end zone for a safety and Penn State's first lead of the game, 19–17. Aaron Maybin finished with four tackles, including a sack of Threet that forced a fumble, which was recovered by Abe Koroma and led to a Penn State touchdown.[53]

Kicker Kevin Kelly made three field goals and five extra points to become the Big Ten's all-time leader in career kick scoring (376 career points) and was named the Big Ten's Special Teams Player of the Week.[54] Odrick's sack for a safety was named the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Week.[55]

See also: 2008 Michigan Wolverines football team

October 25: Ohio State
1 2 3 4 Total
Penn State 0 3 0 10 13
Ohio State 0 3 3 0 6

For the fourth straight year, ESPN's College GameDay crew broadcast from the site of the Penn State–Ohio State match-up.[56][57]

In front of an Ohio Stadium-record crowd of 105,711, the Nittany Lions got their first win at Ohio State since 1978 by defeating the Buckeyes 13–6 in a game where both offenses were held below their season averages. The turning point of the game occurred early in the fourth quarter with Ohio State holding a three-point lead and facing a 3rd-and-1. Safety Mark Rubin tackled Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor and forced a fumble recovered by linebacker NaVorro Bowman. Backup quarterback Pat Devlin, in for an injured Daryll Clark, scored on a quarterback sneak for the only touchdown of the game. After Kevin Kelly's second field goal, the Buckeyes last drive was ended with an interception by cornerback Lydell Sargeant at the goal line, Pryor's second turnover of the game. The Buckeyes were limited to their lowest point total in Ohio Stadium since 1982, and the Nittany Lions were charged with zero penalties.

Clark completed 12 of 20 passes for 121 yards before leaving. Devlin only attempted one pass, which drew a pass interference flag. Evan Royster had 77 yards on 19 carries. The Nittany Lions defense held the Buckeyes running game in check, holding Pryor to six yards on nine attempts, and Chris "Beanie" Wells to 55 yards on 22 carries. Rubin led the defense with a career-high eleven tackles and the forced fumble, and Bowman had ten tackles and the fumble recovery.[58][59]

Rubin's forced fumble was voted the week's Pontiac Game Changing Performance with an overwhelming 53 percent of the total votes,[60] and Rubin was named the Walter Camp Football Foundation Defensive Player of the Week[61] and the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week.[62] The team was named the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America.[63]

Kelly's two field goals moved him into a first place tie for made field goals (72) in Big Ten history.[64]

The win earned the seventh-largest regular season primetime audience ever on ABC. It was the second-highest of the 2008 college football season, drawing a larger audience than Game 3 of the 2008 World Series played on the same evening.[65] Despite being an away game, thousands of Penn State students and fans rioted in the streets of State College following the game.[66]

See also: 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes football team

November 8: Iowa
1 2 3 4 Total
Penn State 3 10 10 0 23
Iowa 7 0 7 10 24

Penn State was handed their only loss of the regular season when Iowa kicked a 31-yard field goal with :01 remaining to win the game, 24–23. Iowa began their game-winning drive at their own 15-yard line following a Tyler Sash interception of a Daryll Clark pass. It was only Clark's third interception of the year.

Derrick Williams was a multidimensional threat: taking several direct snaps from a variant of the Wildcat formation, rushing for 53 yards and a touchdown on twelve carries, and completing his first career pass (23 yards to tight end Mickey Shuler). Running back Evan Royster picked up 90 yards and a touchdown on a career-high twenty-six carries, becoming the 12th Nittany Lion to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Receiver Deon Butler had three catches, moving him into a tie with Bobby Engram for the career receptions leader at Penn State (167). Kevin Kelly set the Big Ten record for career field goals with his 24-yarder in the first quarter, topping Mike Nugent's previous record of 72. Kelly has kicked field goals in a school-record 30 consecutive games.[67]

Penn State's defense limited the Iowa offense to 272 yards and forced two turnovers but allowed the Hawkeyes to drive 41 yards and into field goal range on the game's final drive, aided by an Anthony Scirrotto pass interference call on 3rd-and-15.[68]

See also: 2008 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

November 15: Indiana
1 2 3 4 Total
Indiana 0 7 0 0 7
Penn State 0 10 17 7 34

Penn State overcame a sluggish first half to preserve their perfect record over the Hoosiers with a 34–7 victory. The Nittany Lions overcame three Daryll Clark turnovers, who threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Receiver Deon Butler had five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, becoming Penn State's career receptions leader with 172, passing Bobby Engram (167). Derrick Williams accumulated 164 all-purpose yards, the second-highest total of his career. Williams ran for a career-high 61 yards on four carries, including a career-long 36-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. His 39-yard touchdown catch was his longest career reception.

The defense held Indiana to 180 yards of total offense and only six first downs, the fewest Penn State has ever allowed in a Big Ten game. Linebacker Josh Hull led all tacklers with seven, including his first career sack. The only points allowed came on a Marcus Thigpen 57-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter to tie the game 7–7. Kevin Kelly later kicked a field goal to give the Lions a 10–7 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Nittany Lions defense would only give up 36 yards and one first down.[69]

See also: 2008 Indiana Hoosiers football team

November 22: Michigan State
1 2 3 4 Total
Michigan State 0 7 0 11 18
Penn State 7 21 14 7 49

On Senior Day, the Nittany Lions clinched a Rose Bowl BCS bid and a share of the Big Ten championship with a 49–18 victory over the Spartans. In snowy weather conditions, Daryll Clark threw for career-highs of 341 yards and four touchdowns. The offensive line, led by seniors A. Q. Shipley, Gerald Cadogan, Mike Lucian and Rich Ohrnberger, and senior fullback Dan Lawlor paved the way for Penn State's 557 yards of total offense. Senior receiver Jordan Norwood had five receptions for a career-high 127 yards. Fellow senior Deon Butler tallied 133 yards on three receptions, all resulting in touchdowns.

Entering the game, Spartans running back Javon Ringer was third in the NCAA in rushing averaging 140.7 yards per game, but the Penn State defense held Ringer to a season-low 42 yards. Senior Mark Rubin led all Penn State tacklers with eight. Senior defensive backs Lydell Sargeant and Anthony Scirrotto each had one interception, with Scirrotto's leading to a Derrick Williams 32-yard touchdown on the next offensive play.[70]

The win was the 800th in Penn State history. The Nittany Lions are the sixth school to reach 800 wins, joining Michigan (872), Notre Dame (830), Texas (830), Nebraska (815) and Ohio State (808).[71]

Clark was named the Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week.[72]

See also: 2008 Michigan State Spartans football team and Land Grant Trophy

January 1, 2009: USC (Rose Bowl)
1 2 3 4 Total
Penn State 7 0 0 17 24
USC 7 24 0 7 38
Main article: 2009 Rose Bowl

For the first time since 2004, the Big Ten and Pac-10 champs met in the Rose Bowl. During the years in between, one or the other was in the BCS national championship. However, the last time USC and Penn State met in a bowl game, Penn State was still an independent.

The Rose Bowl stadium, prepared the 95th edition of the nation's oldest bowl game.

After a close first quarter, USC scored 24 unanswered second quarter points en route to a 31–7 halftime lead. A possible fumble in Penn State's favor was negated by an offsides penalty and Stephon Green's fumble just before halftime led to the final USC touchdown. The second half was more in Penn State's favor. USC continued their pass-heavy gameplan, but Penn State adjusted and was able to outscore USC 17–7 in the second half. Penn State cut the lead to 38–24 with 4 and 1/2 minutes left, but their first attempt to cut further into the lead was immediately intercepted. However, USC's next punt went sailing over the punter and Penn State recovered, giving Penn State the ball at the USC 14, but it was also intercepted. With the loss, Penn State moved to 1–2 in Rose Bowls and 1–1 under Joe Paterno.

After taking over for an injured Evan Royster in the second quarter, backup tailback Stephfon Green finished with 57 yards on 10 carries and was the Nittany Lions' leading receiver with five catches for 67 yards. Green left the game in the fourth quarter after sustaining what appeared to be a sprained right ankle. However, tests conducted after the team returned home revealed that Green sustained broken bones in his right leg and ankle and would require surgery to help repair the bones. Green is expected out of action for up to three months.[73]

See also: 2008 USC Trojans football team

Rankings
See also: 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final 
AP 22 19 17 16 12 6 6 3 3 3 3 (6) 7 7 6 6 6 8 
Coaches 22 19 17 15 12 6 6 3 (3) 3 (2) 3 (3) 2 (6) 8 8 6 6 6 8 
Harris Not released 6 3 (4) 3 (3) 3 (5) 2 (17) 7 7 6 6 6 Not released 
BCS Not released 3 3 3 8 8 8 6 6 Not released

Awards

Watchlists

Players

Coaches

Other awards
2008 Lambert Trophy winner[110]
FWAA Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week (October 25)[63]

Post season

Penn State finished the season ranked number 8 in both the final AP and Coaches college football polls, earning Penn State its 22nd Top 10 finish under Joe Paterno. It's the 34th final top 25 ranking under Paterno.[111]

Penn State finished second in football attendance for the sixth time this decade and in the top four for the 18th consecutive year, averaging 108,254 for seven home games, including crowds of 110,017 on homecoming to watch Penn State host Michigan, the fourth-largest in Beaver Stadium history, and 109,845 to watch Penn State beat Michigan State and clinch the Big Ten title, the seventh-largest in Beaver Stadium history.[112]

In December, backup quarterback Pat Devlin decided to transfer from Penn State and would not play in the Rose Bowl. Devlin appeared in ten games for the Nittany Lions, passing for 459 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.[113] Devlin later committed to Delaware, a Division I FCS school, where he will have two years of eligibility left.[114]

In January, redshirt sophomore defensive end Aaron Maybin announced that he was skipping his final two seasons of eligibility and declared for the 2009 NFL Draft.[115] Junior defensive end Maurice Evans, despite losing his starting position and playing time to Maybin due to a three-game suspension for marijuana possession, also declared for the draft.[116]

After the Rose Bowl, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Sr. interviewed with Illinois head coach Ron Zook to become the Illini's defensive coordinator. While many anticipated Johnson to take the job, in the end Johnson decided to stay at his current position at Penn State.[117][118]

Eight players were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, held February 18–24 in Indianapolis: Deon Butler, Gerald Cadogan, Maurice Evans, Aaron Maybin, Jordan Norwood, Lydell Sargeant, A. Q. Shipley and Derrick Williams.[119]

NFL draft

Five Penn State players were selected in the 2009 NFL Draft.[120][121]

RoundPickOverallNamePositionTeam
1st1111Aaron MaybinDefensive endBuffalo Bills
3rd1882Derrick WilliamsWide receiverDetroit Lions
3rd2791Deon ButlerWide receiverSeattle Seahawks
4th23123Rich OhrnbergerGuardNew England Patriots
7th17226A. Q. ShipleyCenterPittsburgh Steelers

Along with the five players selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, nine other players have signed with NFL teams.

NamePositionTeam
Gerald CadoganTackleCarolina Panthers
Tony DavisCornerbackArizona Cardinals
Maurice EvansDefensive endNew York Giants
Josh GainesDefensive endPhiladelphia Eagles
Jordan NorwoodWide receiverCleveland Browns
Mark RubinSafetySt. Louis Rams
Tyrell SalesLinebackerIndianapolis Colts
Lydell SargeantCornerbackBuffalo Bills
Anthony ScirrottoSafetyCarolina Panthers

All-star games
GameDateSitePlayers
84th East–West Shrine GameJanuary 17, 2009Robertson Stadium,
Houston, Texas		Deon Butler[122]
60th Senior BowlJanuary 24, 2009Ladd–Peebles Stadium,
Mobile, Alabama		Derrick Williams[123]
3rd Texas vs. The Nation GameJanuary 31, 2009Sun Bowl Stadium,
El Paso, Texas		Gerald Cadogan, Jordan Norwood, Rich Ohrnberger, Lydell Sargeant, Anthony Scirrotto[124]
* A.Q. Shipley was also invited to play in the East–West Shrine Game but declined in favor of attending the official Rimington Trophy ceremony[125]

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