College football national championships historically have been more subjective than objective.
Before the advent of the BCS and later the College Football Playoff, “national champion” was often a matter of who you asked. Various organizations, from the Associated Press to the Helms Athletic Foundation to the National Championship Foundation crowned different teams, often with conflicting results. I’m pretty sure a Magic 8 Ball would’ve been considered an official selector back in the day. In this chaotic historical landscape, many programs have taken it upon themselves to retroactively claim national titles based on legitimate selectors.
It’s time for Penn State to do the same.
The Nittany Lions officially claim national championships from 1982 and 1986, when they finished No. 1 in the AP and UPI polls. But several respected systems and selectors have recognized Penn State as national champions in other years as well. If programs like Alabama, Texas A&M and, in recent days, Auburn, can retroactively add titles to their storied histories — some based on far shakier ground — Penn State has every right to do so.
Let’s examine the case for each unclaimed title.
1911
Penn State finished the 1911 season 8-0-1, shutting out seven of its nine opponents. The only blemish was a 0-0 tie with Navy. While the Helms Athletic Foundation awarded the title to Princeton, the strength of Penn State’s schedule and total dominance warrant consideration. The National Championship Foundation retroactively recognized Penn State as national champions that season. A team that allowed zero points in most games while playing respected opponents should be celebrated just as any other champion of the era.
1912
In 1912, Penn State posted an 8-0 record and once again played nearly perfect defense, allowing just one opponent to score. Their combined score over eight games was a dominant 285–6. While Harvard was awarded the title by some, Penn State’s schedule included prominent regional opponents and another dominant defense. The National Championship Foundation lists Penn State as a co-national champion with the Crimson for 1912. When defensive dominance and perfect records mattered most, the Nittany Lions were at the top of the mountain.
1969
Joe Paterno’s 1969 team finished 11-0 but was unanimously passed over for Texas by the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, National Football Foundation and United Press International. Therefore, unlike the 1911 and 1912 titles, the NCAA doesn’t recognize it — but that hasn’t stopped other schools from claiming their titles.
The Nittany Lions capped their perfect season with a win over No. 5 Missouri in the Orange Bowl, while Texas won a memorable game over No. 8 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. The major selectors picked the Longhorns, but the Nittany Lions were top-ranked by Sagarin’s computer formula. Penn State also boasted more ranked wins, albeit with a smaller average margin of victory.
1981
The 1981 season saw Penn State finish with a 10-2 record, capped by a comfortable 26-10 victory over No. 8 USC in the Fiesta Bowl. While the Associated Press and Coaches Polls crowned Clemson (12-0) as national champion, several alternative systems named Penn State as the top team in the country. Dunkel, an NCAA-recognized selector, listed the Nittany Lions as national champions for 1981. Notably, Penn State defeated more ranked teams than Clemson, including a signature 48-14 win over No. 1 Pitt — a team loaded with NFL talent that had been undefeated heading into that game. That blowout, combined with the strong finish in the bowl season, gave serious credibility to Penn State’s championship case. While Clemson’s record remained unblemished, Penn State’s overall strength of schedule and dominance down the stretch make a compelling argument for co-champion status.
1994
This is arguably the most glaring omission. Penn State’s 1994 squad, led by quarterback Kerry Collins, running back Ki-Jana Carter and wide receiver Bobby Engram, averaged over 47 points per game and went 12-0, including an 18-point Rose Bowl win over Oregon. Yet voters kept them behind Nebraska, despite Penn State’s statistical dominance and a more dynamic offense.
The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, National Football Foundation, United Press International and USA/CNN all sided with the Cornhuskers. The Nittany Lions finished second in the Associated Press and Coaches Polls. But regardless of which team was better, both have a legitimate claim to the title, and many other years feature multiple claimed national champions.
The Bigger Picture
Penn State is one of the most storied programs in college football history. It ranks top 10 nationally in total wins, winning percentage, bowl appearances, NFL draft picks and weeks ranked in the AP poll. It has 13 undefeated seasons.
And yet, it lags behind in the national perspective due to a lack of national championships, claiming just two — tied for 28th in the country. If Penn State were to claim seven titles, it would be tied for eighth.
The Nittany Lions have been declared national champions seven times. The NCAA recognizes four of those. Claiming some combination of these additional championships would undoubtedly elevate Penn State’s historical standing.
Retroactive claims aren’t about rewriting history dishonestly; they’re about embracing the full record, especially when legitimate selectors made those judgments at the time (or shortly thereafter using accepted methods).
This would also strengthen the “blue blood” argument. A blue blood in college football isn’t just about current success; it’s about sustained excellence, tradition and historical prominence. Penn State already checks most of the boxes. Adding a richer national championship history would solidify that perception.
Pitt claims a national championship from 1918, when the team went 4-1, capped off by a 10-9 loss to the Cleveland Naval Reserves — whatever that is. It’s time Penn State stopped playing it safe and embraced the accolades it rightfully earned.
Penn State doesn’t need to fabricate history; it just needs to honor it. The championships of 1911, 1912, 1969, 1981 and especially 1994 have credible backing from reputable selectors. Retroactively claiming them wouldn’t just be a move to catch up in the numbers game; it would be a statement of pride in the program’s tradition and rightful place among college football’s elite.
Claim the trophies. Fly the flags. History remembers the bold. Penn State should join that conversation.
