Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State football is a Happy Valley institution, filling Beaver Stadium's 100,000-plus seats for the iconic "White Out" games that turn the whole venue into a wall of noise and color. Built on defense, discipline, and one of the sport's most recognizable plain uniforms, the Nittany Lions have long stood as a model program in the Big Ten. Penn State's blue-and-white identity is tied closely to decades of coaching stability and a passionate alumni base.

Penn State fielded its first football team in 1887 and built a national brand under legendary coach Joe Paterno, whose 46-year tenure produced two consensus national championships, in 1982 and 1986. The Nittany Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993 after decades as a football independent, adding a new layer of rivalry to their history. Penn State has continued to compete for Big Ten and national relevance in the College Football Playoff era under James Franklin.