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Alabama–Penn State football rivalry
	Alabama Crimson Tide Penn State Nittany Lions
First meeting	December 19, 1959; Penn State, 7–0
Latest meeting	September 10, 2011; Alabama, 27–11
Next meeting	TBD
Statistics
Meetings total	15
All-time series	Alabama leads, 10–5
Largest victory	Alabama, 42–21 (1982); Penn State, 23–3 (1986)
Longest win streak	Alabama, 4 (1975–1982)
Current win streak	Alabama, 2 (2010–present)

800km
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Penn State

Alabama

Locations of Alabama and Penn State

The Alabama–Penn State football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and Penn State Nittany Lions football team of Pennsylvania State University.^[2]^[3]^[4] Starting with three Bowl games, the rivalry was active in the 1980's when the teams met 10 times. Following their 1990 game, the series became dormant with Penn State's move to the Big Ten Conference^[5]^[6] but was renewed in 2010 in Tuscaloosa^[7]^[8] and 2011 in State College.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Notable games

1959 Liberty Bowl

In a defensive struggle, the only scoring of the game came at the close of the second quarter, as Penn State threw for a touchdown on a fake field goal, leading to a 7–0 win for the Nittany Lions.^[12]

1975 Sugar Bowl

With each team successfully kicking two field goals, the winning margin was a third-quarter touchdown by the Crimson Tide, as Alabama won, 13–6.^[13]

1979 Sugar Bowl

Alabama scored in the second quarter, then Penn State answered in the third, then Alabama took a 14–7 lead on a touchdown set up by a 62-yard punt return.^[14] Penn State had a chance to tie in the fourth, but Chuck Fusina threw an interception into the Alabama end zone. Then the Crimson Tide had a chance to put the game away, but fumbled the football back to Penn State at the Nittany Lion 19-yard-line with four minutes to go. Penn State drove to a first and goal at the Alabama eight. On third and goal from the one, Fusina asked Bama linebacker Marty Lyons "What do you think we should do?", and Lyons answered "You'd better pass." On third down, Penn State was stopped inches short of the goal line.^[14] On fourth down, Penn State was stopped again, Barry Krauss meeting Mike Guman and throwing him back for no gain.^[14] Alabama held on for a 14–7 victory.^[15]^[14]

Game results

Alabama victories	Penn State victories

No.	Date	Location	Winning team		Losing team
1	December 19, 1959	Philadelphia, PA	#12 Penn State	7	#10 Alabama	0
2	December 31, 1975	New Orleans, LA	#3 Alabama	13	#7 Penn State	6
3	January 1, 1979	New Orleans, LA	#2 Alabama	14	#1 Penn State	7
4	November 14, 1981	State College, PA	#6 Alabama	31	#5 Penn State	16
5	October 9, 1982	Birmingham, AL	#4 Alabama	42	#3 Penn State	21
6	October 8, 1983	State College, PA	Penn State	34	#3 Alabama	28
7	October 13, 1984	Tuscaloosa, AL	Alabama	6	#11 Penn State	0
8	October 12, 1985	State College, PA	#8 Penn State	19	#10 Alabama	17
9	October 25, 1986	Tuscaloosa, AL	#5 Penn State	23	#2 Alabama	3
10	September 12, 1987	State College, PA	#19 Alabama	24	#11 Penn State	13
11	October 22, 1988	Birmingham, AL	Alabama	8	Penn State	3
12	October 28, 1989	State College, PA	#6 Alabama	17	#14 Penn State	16
13	October 27, 1990	Tuscaloosa, AL	Penn State	9	Alabama	0
14	September 11, 2010	Tuscaloosa, AL	#1 Alabama	24	#18 Penn State	3
15	September 10, 2011	State College, PA	#3 Alabama	27	#23 Penn State	11
Series: Alabama leads 10–5^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Winsipedia – Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Penn State Nittany Lions football series history". Winsipedia.
^ Ron Bracken (October 27, 1990). "A decade of highs, lows to go out with the Tide". Centre Daily Times. pp. 1D, 3D. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. When you start talking about the great rivalries in college football you've got to put Penn State-Alabama series on the short list.
^ Nissenson, Herschel (October 24, 1986). "Penn State-Alabama continues with its championship drama". Gainesville Sun. Associated Press. p. 3C. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
^ Bill Lumpkin (October 27, 1990). "Intersectional rivalries becoming distant". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. D6. Retrieved December 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ L.C. Johnson (October 23, 1990). "Penn State-Bama series closes out". Ledger-Enquirer. pp. B1, B3. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Jeff Rice (September 10, 2011). "Lions-Tide series has produced great memories". Centre Daily Times. p. 5. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Michael Casagrande (September 9, 2010). "Bama, PSU rivalry back after 20 years". The Anniston Star. p. 3B. Retrieved December 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Greg Pickel (September 11, 2010). "Renewal of storied series brings out PSU-Tide tales". The Patriot-News. p. 11. Retrieved December 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Lynn, Britton (September 9, 2010). "Penn State rivalry goes far back". The Crimson White. Tuscaloosa, AL. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
^ Davis, Rece (September 8, 2011). "Alabama, Penn State renew rivalry of respect". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
^ Zenor, John (September 9, 2010). "Alabama-PSU rivalry has produced classic moments". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
^ Land, Charles (December 20, 1959). "Penn State outplays Crimson Tide, 7–0". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
^ Wilson, Austin (January 1, 1976). "Sugar Bowl is sweet for Alabama". The Gadsden Times. AP. p. 17. Retrieved January 19, 2011 – via Google News.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Dodds, Tracy (January 2, 1979). "Penn State fails to hold back the Tide". The Milwaukee Journal. Milwaukee, WI. Retrieved November 13, 2011.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Ron Musselman (September 10, 2010). "Not easily forgotten". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. E5. Retrieved December 30, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.