2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team


The 2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by third-year head coach James Franklin and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. They were a member of the Big Ten East Division of the Big Ten Conference. They lost to Pitt and Michigan in early September but then had a winning streak that included signature victories over Ohio State and Wisconsin en route to a Big Ten championship. Despite their Big Ten title, the Nittany Lions just missed a playoff berth. They represented the Big Ten in the 2017 Rose Bowl, losing to USC on a game winning field goal.

Background

Previous season

During the previous season the Nittany Lions started the year with a 5–1 record and 2–0 in Big Ten play. Then on October, 17 they lost to #1 ranked Ohio State. After which they won their next two games including a 39–0 rout over Illinois. Following the rout the Nittany Lions finished the year 0–4 including losses to #6 Michigan State and #14 Michigan and a bowl game loss to Georgia.

2016 NFL Draft

RoundPick PlayerTeamPosition
243Austin JohnsonTennessee TitansNose Tackle
251Christian HackenbergNew York JetsQuarterback
365Carl NassibCleveland BrownsDefensive end
6202Anthony ZettelDetroit LionsDefense Tackle
6204Jordan LucasMiami DolphinsSafety

Schedule

Overview

Penn State announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Nittany Lions hosted Big Ten foes Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Ohio State, and traveled to Indiana, Michigan, Purdue, and Rutgers.
The team hosted two of the three non-conference games against the Kent State Golden Flashes from the Mid-American Conference, Pittsburgh Panthers from the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Temple Owls from the American Athletic Conference.

Roster

Coaching staff

Rankings

Game summaries

Kent State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
4–02013PSU, 34–0

Pittsburgh

Overall recordLast meetingResult
50–42–42000UP, 12–0

Temple

Overall recordLast meetingResult
39–4–12015TU, 27–10

#4 Michigan

Overall recordLast meetingResult
7–122015UM, 28–16

Minnesota

Overall recordLast meetingResult
8–52013UM, 24–10

Maryland

Overall recordLast meetingResult
36–2–12015PSU, 31–30

#2 Ohio State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
13–172015OSU, 38–10

Purdue

Overall recordLast meetingResult
13–3–12013PSU, 45–21

Iowa

Overall recordLast meetingResult
13–122012PSU, 38–14

Indiana

Overall recordLast meetingResult
18–12015PSU, 29–7

Rutgers

Overall recordLast meetingResult
24–22015PSU, 28–3

Michigan State

Overall recordLast meetingResult
14–15–12015MSU, 55–16

#6 Wisconsin (Big Ten Championship Game)

Overall recordLast meetingResult
8–92013PSU, 31–24

#9 USC (Rose Bowl)

Overall recordLast meetingResult
4–52008USC, 38–24

Awards and honors

Players

PlayerAwardDate AwardedRef.
Marcus AllenBig Ten Co-Defensive Player of the WeekOctober 3, 2016
Saquon BarkleyBig Ten Offensive Player of the WeekOctober 10, 2016
Brandon SmithBig Ten Defensive Player of the WeekOctober 10, 2016
Brandon BellBig Ten Defensive Player of the WeekOctober 24, 2016
Marcus AllenBig Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the WeekOctober 24, 2016
Grant HaleyBig Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the WeekOctober 24, 2016
Saquon BarkleyBig Ten Offensive Player of the WeekOctober 31, 2016
Connor McGovernBig Ten Freshman of the WeekNovember 7, 2016
Tyler DavisBig Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the WeekNovember 21, 2016
Trace McSorleyBig Ten Offensive Player of the WeekNovember 29, 2016
Saquon BarkleyBig Ten Offensive Player of the YearNovember 30, 2016
Saquon BarkleyAmeche-Dayne Running Back of the YearNovember 29, 2016
Saquon BarkleyChicago Tribune Silver FootballDecember 7, 2016

PlayerSelection
Grant HaleyFirst Team
Tyler DavisFirst Team
Second Team
Saquon BarkleySecond Team
Trace McSorleySecond Team
Garrett SickelsSecond Team
Third Team
Evan SchwanThird Team
Jason CabindaThird Team
Honorable Mention
Marcus AllenThird Team
Honorable Mention
Chris GodwinThird Team
Honorable Mention
Mike GesickiSecond Team
Honorable Mention
Brandon BellHonorable Mention
Brian GaiaHonorable Mention
Blake GillikinHonorable Mention
Parker CothrenHonorable Mention
John ReidHonorable Mention

Coaches