| First meeting | October 28, 1922 Tie, 0–0 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | August 31, 2013 Penn State, 23–17 |
| Next meeting | September 4, 2027 |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 71 |
| All-time series | Penn State leads, 43–23–5[1] |
| Largest victory | Penn State, 49–6 (1973) |
| Longest win streak | Penn State, 16 (1971–1986) |
62miles
The Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Syracuse Orange. Penn State leads the series 43–23–5.
History[edit]
The rivalry started in 1922, when Syracuse fought Penn State to a 0–0 tie.[2] But it was during the 1950s and 1960s that the rivalry intensified, as it enjoyed a competitive and very controversial string of contests.[3] In 1953, after Lenny Moore intercepted a pass to seal a 20–14 Penn State victory, he was shoved out of bounds into the Syracuse bench. A Syracuse player jumped on Moore and a wild brawl started. Fans jumped out of the stands to join in. The fighting went on for several minutes before order was restored and Penn State took a knee to end the game.[4] Syracuse football was led by Ben Schwartzwalder, and Penn State by Rip Engle, then Joe Paterno. From 1950 to 1970, Syracuse won 11 games to Penn State's 10.
After Schwartzwalder retired in 1973, Syracuse floundered. Penn State won 16 straight from 1971 to 1986. Conference realignment and scheduling disagreements also dampened the intensity of the rivalry.[5] Penn State fans and players increasingly turned their attention to the rivalry with Pittsburgh.
In 1987, Coach Dick MacPherson finally led Syracuse to a resounding 48–21 victory over the Nittany Lions in the Dome. Syracuse won again the following year in Happy Valley but lost the last two games before the series was suspended in 1991.[6]
Rivalry resumed[edit]
In 2002, it was announced that the two teams would revive the rivalry by scheduling a home-and-home series in 2008 and 2009.[7]
After an almost twenty-year break in the series, the two programs played in Syracuse's Carrier Dome on September 13, 2008, with the Nittany Lions prevailing 55–13 over the Orange. The contest didn't generate a sellout crowd at the Carrier Dome. They met again the next year. Penn State won 28–7. After a 4-year break, in 2013 the two teams met again, this time at MetLife Stadium, in front of 61,202 fans; Penn State won 23–17.[8][9]
On May 4, 2022, the two schools announced a home-and-home series in 2027 and 2028.[10]
Game results[edit]
| Penn State victories | Syracuse victories | Tie games |
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See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Winsipedia - Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Syracuse Orange football series history". Winsipedia.
- ^ "The History of the Penn State - Syracuse Rivalry". Black Shoe Diaries. September 11, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ Viera, Mark (September 11, 2008). "The Past for Syracuse and Penn State Is Now Present". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ "The Penn State - Syracuse Rivalry Part II". Black Shoe Diaries. September 12, 2008. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ Waters, Mike (November 8, 2022). "Crouthamel led SU through transcendent era, never seeking the limelight, never caring about criticism". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
Paterno blamed Crouthamel for keeping Penn state out of the newly formed Big East
(subscription required) - ^ Croyle, Johnathan (July 18, 2018). "'They wanted to hurt us': Penn State ends rivalry with SU in 1988". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- ^ "Penn State, Syracuse To Renew Football Rivalry | Penn State University". News.psu.edu. June 21, 2002. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ "Penn State and Syracuse Open 2013 Season at MetLife Stadium - Penn State Official Athletic Site". Gopsusports.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ^ Cohen, Michael. (September 1, 2013). "New Syracuse QB Allen struggles in opening loss," The Post Standard, pp.C-1 ff.
- ^ "Penn State and Syracuse Football Announce Home-and-Home Series in 2027 and 2028". Penn State University Athletics. Retrieved May 4, 2022.