Penn State

The Nittany Lions have not had much success in the UCFC. In fact, their all-time record in UCFC games is only 12-20-1.

For much of college football history, Penn State was a relatively minor player in Eastern football. That changed after World War II, as Penn State was one of the few major universities in the East still committed to football. But by then, the UCFC had largely left the East. Despite the enormous success of Joe Paterno, for example, Penn State did not participate in a single UCFC game between 1966 and 1986.

For example, Penn State famously lost the 1978 national title Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. But that was not a UCFC game, as the title was held by USC.

Penn State won the 1982 national championship by beating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. But due to a series of upsets, the UCFC at the time was held by Washington State, so that Penn State team also did not get to compete for the title.

In 1986, Penn State did win the UCFC -- ironically by beating Alabama 23-3. Penn State then held the title all the way to the end of the season, as they beat Miami of Florida in the Fiesta Bowl to capture the 1986 national championship. That game -- one the biggest games of the 1980s -- was by far the most important UCFC matchup in which Penn State has participated.

The next year, Penn State lost the UCFC title back to Alabama in the first game of the 1987 season by a score of 24-13. Penn State won the title back toward the end of the 1987 season by beating Notre Dame, but immediately lost it again to Clemson.

Since the 1987 season, Penn State has only played for the UCFC twice: in September 2001, they were drilled by Miami of Florida, 33-7, and in September 2006 Ohio State pounded them 28-6.