After polishing off Boise State to win the Fiesta Bowl, Penn State is now setting its sights on the Orange Bowl as the next step on its hunt for a national championship. The Nittany Lions have a perfect record in the Fiesta Bowl and have a good winning percentage in the Orange Bowl as well. Can they keep that trend going in the next round of the College Football Playoff?
Penn State is 4-1 all-time in the Orange Bowl. The only setback cost Penn State a national championship at the end of the 1985 season when the Nittany Lions were handed their only loss of the season by No. 3 Oklahoma. The Sooners claimed the unanimous national title when No. 2 Miami lost in the Sugar Bowl. Of course, that led to Penn State’s national title run the following season, against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl.
Penn State will make its first trip to the Orange Bowl since an epic overtime clash with Florida State in the 2006 game, at the end of the 2005 season. That was highlighted as a showdown between two of college football’s all-time winningest coaches, Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden.
This will mark Penn State’s second appearance in the Orange Bowl as a Big Ten member, and it will be the first time as a participant in the College Football Playoff semifinal round.
Here is a quick look at Penn State’s all-time results in the Orange Bowl:
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1969: No. 3 Penn State 15, No. 6 Kansas 14
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1970: No. 2 Penn State 10, No. 6 Missouri 3
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1974: No. 6 Penn State 16, No. 13 LSU, 9
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1986: No. 3 Oklahoma 25, No. 1 Penn State 10
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2006: No. 3 Penn State 26, No. 22 Florida State 23
Penn State will be making its sixth appearance in the Orange Bowl. whichever team Penn State faces, Georgia or Notre Dame, will also be making their sixth appearance in the bowl game. Georgia is 4-1 all-time in the Orange Bowl, and Notre Dame is 2-3 in the game. No other Big Ten team has appeared in the Orange Bowl as often as Penn State other than Nebraska, which has 17 Orange Bowl appearances.
Of course, the Big Ten has not traditionally sent teams to the Orange Bowl while the old Big Eight had a strong connection with the game (Oklahoma and Nebraska have a combined 37 appearances between them as former Big Eight members). As a Big Ten member, no other school has played in more Orange Bowl games than Michigan (four appearances representing the conference).
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts with wide receiver Harrison Wallace III (6) after scoring a touchdown against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) reacts with wide receiver Harrison Wallace III (6) after scoring a touchdown against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes the…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes the ball against Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Tony Rojas (13) during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) rushes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) rushes the ball against Boise State Broncos safety Ty Benefield (0) during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) practices…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) practices before the Fiesta Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) rushes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) rushes the ball against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) drops back…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) drops back to pass against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes the…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Karson Kiesewetter (28) reacts against…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Karson Kiesewetter (28) reacts against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Omari Evans (5) makes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Omari Evans (5) makes a touchdown catch over Boise State Broncos safety Ty Benefield (0) during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Omari Evans (5) makes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Omari Evans (5) makes a touchdown catch over Boise State Broncos safety Ty Benefield (0) during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos tight end Matt Lauter (85) makes a…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos tight end Matt Lauter (85) makes a catch against Penn State Nittany Lions safety Jaylen Reed (1) and linebacker Tony Rojas (13) during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos fullback Tyler Crowe (33) reacts after rushing…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos fullback Tyler Crowe (33) reacts after rushing for a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes the…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) rushes the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) runs…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) runs after a catch against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) rushes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Nicholas Singleton (10) rushes the ball against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) rushes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) rushes the ball against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) makes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) makes a catch against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos fullback Tyler Crowe (33) rushes for a…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boise State Broncos fullback Tyler Crowe (33) rushes for a touchdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Cam Miller (5) and safety…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Cam Miller (5) and safety Zakee Wheatley (6) break top a pass against the Boise State Broncos during the first half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) rushes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) rushes the ball against the Boise State Broncos during the second half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) makes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) makes a touchdown catch against the Boise State Broncos during the second half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) makes…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tight end Tyler Warren (44) makes a touchdown catch against the Boise State Broncos during the second half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Penn State at Boise State
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts against…
Dec 31, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts against the Boise State Broncos during the second half in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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