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The Penn State Nittany Lions football statistical leaders are statistical leaders of the Penn State Nittany Lions football program in various categories,[1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, kicking and overall team performance. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, career leaders and all time records. The Nittany Lions represent Pennsylvania State University in the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.
Although Penn State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1887,[1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1970. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
- Since 1970, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length.
- The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers.
- Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002,[2] allowing players in most seasons since then an extra game to accumulate statistics.
- The Nittany Lions played in the 2016 Big Ten Football Championship Game, giving players in that season yet another game to amass statistics.
- Starting in 2018 a redshirted player was allowed to play in up to 4 games in a season and still maintain their status allowing players to gain an extra season of statistics.
- Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.[3]
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Passing yards
Passing touchdowns
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Passing attempts
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Passing completions
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Passing completion percentage
- Minimum of 100 attempts for career
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Interceptions
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Longest touchdown pass
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Rushing yards
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Rushing touchdowns
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Longest rushing plays
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Receptions
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Receiving yards
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Receiving touchdowns
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Longest touchdown reception
| Rank | Receiver | Passer | Yards | Year | Opponent |
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| 1 | Daniel George | Sean Clifford | 95 | 2018 | Kent State |
| 2 | K. J. Hamler | Trace McSorley | 93 | 2018 | Ohio State |
| 3 | Bob Higgins | Bill Hess | 92 | 1919 | Pittsburgh |
| 4 | KeAndre Lambert-Smith | Sean Clifford | 88 | 2022 | Utah (Rose Bowl) |
| 5 | Jim Scott | Steve Joachim | 86 | 1971 | Navy |
| Jahan Dotson | Sean Clifford | 86 | 2021 | Maryland | |
| 7 | Saquon Barkley | Trace McSorley | 85 | 2017 | Georgia State |
| 8 | Sean Clifford | KeAndre Lambert-Smith | 83[17] | 2021 | Villanova |
| 9 | Eric Hamilton | Matt Knizner | 82 | 1982 | Pittsburgh |
| Eric Hamilton | Matt Knizner | 82 | 1986 | Pittsburgh | |
| Freddie Scott | Kerry Collins | 82 | 1994 | Rutgers |
- All-time career and single season records for Tight Ends
Total offense yards
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Touchdowns responsible for
In official NCAA records, "touchdowns responsible for" includes rushing and passing touchdowns, but not receptions or returns—the same statistical categories used to measure total offense.[22]
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Interceptions
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Tackles
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Sacks
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Extra Point Attempts
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Extra Points Made
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Extra Point Percentage
- Minimum of 40 Attempts
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Field Goal Attempts
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Field Goals Made
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Field Goal Percentage
*Minimum of 40 Attempts
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Points
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Longest field goal made
| Rank | Player | Yards | Year | Opponent |
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| 1 | Jordan Stout | 57 | 2019 | Pittsburgh |
| 2 | Chris Bahr | 55 | 1975 | Temple |
| 3 | Sam Ficken | 54 | 2013 | Kent State |
| 4 | Kevin Kelly | 53 | 2007 | Iowa |
| Jordan Stout | 53 | 2019 | Idaho | |
| 6 | Kevin Kelly | 52 | 2008 | Syracuse |
| Jordan Stout | 52 | 2021 | Michigan | |
| 8 | Jake Pinegar | 50 | 2022 | Indiana |
| Jake Pinegar | 50 | 2022 | Maryland | |
| Alex Felkins | 50[25] | 2023 | Indiana |
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Longest kickoff return
| Rank | Player | Yards | Year | Opponent | Notes |
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| 1 | Chaz Powell | 100 | 2010 | Youngstown State | Resulted in Touchdown |
| Lamont Wade | 100 | 2020 | Illinois | Resulted in Touchdown | |
| Nicholas Singleton | 100 | 2022 | Rutgers | Resulted in Touchdown | |
| 4 | Saquon Barkley | 98 | 2017 | Indiana | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 5 | Larry Johnson | 97 | 2001 | Illinois | |
| A.J. Wallace | 97 | 2007 | Ohio State | Resulted in Touchdown | |
| Saquon Barkley | 97 | 2017 | Ohio State | Resulted in Touchdown | |
| 8 | Chaz Powell | 95 | 2011 | Indiana State | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 9 | Derrick Williams | 94 | 2008 | Illinois | Resulted in Touchdown |
| Johnathan Thomas | 94 | 2018 | Indiana |
Longest punt return
| Rank | Player | Yards | Year | Opponent | Notes |
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| 1 | Jahan Dotson | 81 | 2020 | Michigan State | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 2 | Derrick Williams | 78 | 2007 | Notre Dame | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 3 | Derrick Williams | 78 | 2006 | Temple | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 4 | Daequan Hardy | 68[26] | 2023 | UMass | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 5 | Derrick Williams | 63 | 2008 | Wisconsin | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 6 | DeAndre Tompkins | 61 | 2017 | Akron | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 7 | Daequan Hardy | 56[26] | 2023 | UMass | Resulted in Touchdown |
| 8 | Jahan Dotson | 50 | 2020 | Illinois | Helped set up two play touchdown drive |
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Largest win / loss margin
Longest win streaks
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Longest losing streaks
Longest bowl streak
| Rank | Streak | Years | Record | Head Coach | Notes |
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| 1 | 13 Years | 1971-1983 | 9-4 | Joe Paterno | 1982: Won 1st National Championship in Sugar Bowl vs Georgia 27-23 |
| 2 | 11 Years | 1989-1999 | 8-3 | Joe Paterno | 1994: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Rose Bowl vs Oregon 38-20 |
| 3 | 7 Years | 2005-2011 | 4-3 | Joe Paterno/ Tom Bradley | 2005: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Orange Bowl vs Florida State 26-23
2008: Won Big Ten Championship, Lost Rose Bowl vs USC 24-38 2011: Won Big Ten Leaders Division, Lost TicketCity Bowl vs Houston 14-30 Streak Ended with NCAA Sanctions |
| 4 | 6 Years | 2014-2019 | 3-3 | James Franklin | 2016 : Won Big Ten Championship, Lost Rose Bowl vs USC 49-52 |
| 5 | 4 Years | 1959-1962 | 3-1 | Charles A. "Rip" Engle | |
| 6 | 3 Years | 1967-1969 | 2-0-1 | Joe Paterno | |
| 3 Years | 1985-1987 | 1-2 | Joe Paterno | 1986 : Won 2nd national Championship in Fiesta Bowl vs Miami (FL) 14-10 |
Longest bowl win streak
| Rank | Streak | Years | Head Coach | Notes |
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| 1 | 5 Years | 1979-1983 | Joe Paterno | 1982: Won 1st National Championship in Sugar Bowl vs Georgia 27-23 |
| 2 | 4 Years | 1993-1996 | Joe Paterno | 1994: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Rose Bowl vs Oregon 38-20 |
| 3 | 3 Years | 1959-1961 | Charles A. "Rip" Engle | |
| 3 Years | 2005-2007 | Joe Paterno | 2005: Won Big Ten Championship, Won Orange Bowl vs Florida State 26-23 |
Largest bowl win/ loss margin
Largest win margin
Largest loss margin
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