Program history
Penn State Record vs Ranked Teams
Every opponent's AP Top 25 rank is taken from the time of the game—not the final poll—with all-time, site, decade, and season splits.
Big TenBeaver Stadium
- Overall record
- 111-154-5
- Win percentage
- 42%
- Current streak
- 1W
AP-ranked opponent summary
All Top 25
111-154-5
270 games · 42%
Against Top 10
35-95-1
131 games · 27.1%
Against Top 5
8-64-1
73 games · 11.6%
Streaks
1W
Current ranked-opponent streak · longest win streak 7
Record by site
| Site | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 49-52-2 | 103 | 48.5% |
| Road | 33-83-2 | 118 | 28.8% |
| Neutral | 29-19-1 | 49 | 60.2% |
Record by decade
| Decade | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 8-17 | 25 | 32% |
| 2010s | 12-27 | 39 | 30.8% |
| 2000s | 14-25 | 39 | 35.9% |
| 1990s | 26-20 | 46 | 56.5% |
| 1980s | 23-17-1 | 41 | 57.3% |
| 1970s | 18-13 | 31 | 58.1% |
| 1960s | 6-8 | 14 | 42.9% |
| 1950s | 4-20-2 | 26 | 19.2% |
| 1940s | 0-5-2 | 7 | 14.3% |
| 1930s | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
Record by season
| Season | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2024 | 3-3 | 6 | 50% |
| 2023 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2022 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2021 | 2-5 | 7 | 28.6% |
| 2020 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 2019 | 4-2 | 6 | 66.7% |
| 2018 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2017 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2016 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2015 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2014 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2013 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2012 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2011 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2010 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 2009 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 2008 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 2007 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 2006 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 2005 | 4-0 | 4 | 100% |
| 2004 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2003 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 2002 | 2-3 | 5 | 40% |
| 2001 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2000 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1999 | 5-2 | 7 | 71.4% |
| 1998 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1997 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 1996 | 4-1 | 5 | 80% |
| 1995 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 1994 | 4-0 | 4 | 100% |
| 1993 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 1992 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1991 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 1990 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1989 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 1988 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1987 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1986 | 2-0 | 2 | 100% |
| 1985 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 1984 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1983 | 3-2-1 | 6 | 58.3% |
| 1982 | 5-1 | 6 | 83.3% |
| 1981 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 1980 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 1979 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1978 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 1977 | 3-1 | 4 | 75% |
| 1976 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1975 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 1974 | 4-0 | 4 | 100% |
| 1973 | 2-0 | 2 | 100% |
| 1972 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1971 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1970 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1969 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 1968 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 1967 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1966 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1965 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1964 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1961 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 1960 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1959 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1958 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1957 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1956 | 1-2-1 | 4 | 37.5% |
| 1955 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1954 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1953 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1952 | 0-2-1 | 3 | 16.7% |
| 1951 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1950 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1949 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1948 | 0-0-1 | 1 | 50% |
| 1947 | 0-0-1 | 1 | 50% |
| 1945 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1944 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1943 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1939 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1938 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
Highest-ranked wins
Win over No. 1
Miami, 1986
14-10 · Neutral · Penn State was No. 2
Win over No. 1
Georgia, 1982
27-23 · Neutral · Penn State was No. 2
Win over No. 1
Pittsburgh, 1981
48-14 · Road · Penn State was No. 11
Win over No. 2
Ohio State, 2016
24-21 · Home · Penn State was unranked
Win over No. 2
Nebraska, 1982
27-24 · Home · Penn State was No. 8
Win over No. 4
Arizona, 1999
41-7 · Home · Penn State was unranked
Win over No. 5
Michigan, 1994
31-24 · Road · Penn State was No. 3
Win over No. 5
Pittsburgh, 1982
19-10 · Home · Penn State was No. 2
Win over No. 6
Wisconsin, 2016
38-31 · Neutral · Penn State was No. 8
Win over No. 6
Ohio State, 2005
17-10 · Home · Penn State was No. 16
All 270 qualifying games
| Season | Result | Opponent at game time | Team rank | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | W 22-10 | No. 12 Clemson | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 2025 | L 24-27 | No. 2 Indiana | Unranked | Home |
| 2025 | L 14-38 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2025 | L 24-30 | No. 6 Oregon | No. 3 | Home |
| 2024 | L 24-27 | No. 3 Notre Dame | No. 5 | Neutral |
| 2024 | W 31-14 | No. 8 Boise State | No. 5 | Neutral |
| 2024 | W 38-10 | No. 12 SMU | No. 5 | Home |
| 2024 | L 37-45 | No. 1 Oregon | No. 3 | Neutral |
| 2024 | L 13-20 | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 3 | Home |
| 2024 | W 21-7 | No. 19 Illinois | No. 9 | Home |
| 2023 | L 25-38 | No. 11 Ole Miss | No. 10 | Neutral |
| 2023 | L 15-24 | No. 2 Michigan | No. 9 | Home |
| 2023 | L 12-20 | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 7 | Road |
| 2023 | W 31-0 | No. 24 Iowa | No. 7 | Home |
| 2022 | W 35-21 | No. 7 Utah | No. 9 | Neutral |
| 2022 | L 31-44 | No. 2 Ohio State | No. 13 | Home |
| 2022 | L 17-41 | No. 5 Michigan | No. 10 | Road |
| 2021 | L 10-24 | No. 22 Arkansas | No. 23 | Neutral |
| 2021 | L 27-30 | No. 12 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 2021 | L 17-21 | No. 9 Michigan | No. 23 | Home |
| 2021 | L 24-33 | No. 5 Ohio State | No. 20 | Road |
| 2021 | L 20-23 | No. 3 Iowa | No. 4 | Road |
| 2021 | W 28-20 | No. 22 Auburn | No. 10 | Home |
| 2021 | W 16-10 | No. 12 Wisconsin | No. 19 | Road |
| 2020 | L 25-38 | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 18 | Home |
| 2019 | W 53-39 | No. 15 Memphis | No. 13 | Neutral |
| 2019 | L 17-28 | No. 2 Ohio State | No. 9 | Road |
| 2019 | W 34-27 | No. 24 Indiana | No. 9 | Home |
| 2019 | L 26-31 | No. 13 Minnesota | No. 5 | Road |
| 2019 | W 28-21 | No. 16 Michigan | No. 7 | Home |
| 2019 | W 17-12 | No. 17 Iowa | No. 10 | Road |
| 2018 | L 24-27 | No. 16 Kentucky | No. 13 | Neutral |
| 2018 | L 7-42 | No. 5 Michigan | No. 14 | Road |
| 2018 | W 30-24 | No. 18 Iowa | No. 17 | Home |
| 2018 | L 26-27 | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 9 | Home |
| 2017 | W 35-28 | No. 12 Washington | No. 9 | Neutral |
| 2017 | L 24-27 | No. 24 Michigan State | No. 7 | Road |
| 2017 | L 38-39 | No. 6 Ohio State | No. 2 | Road |
| 2017 | W 42-13 | No. 19 Michigan | No. 2 | Home |
| 2016 | L 49-52 | No. 9 USC | No. 5 | Neutral |
| 2016 | W 38-31 | No. 6 Wisconsin | No. 8 | Neutral |
| 2016 | W 24-21 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2016 | L 10-49 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2015 | L 17-24 | No. 19 Georgia | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2015 | L 16-55 | No. 6 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 2015 | L 16-28 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2015 | L 10-38 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2014 | L 10-34 | No. 10 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2014 | L 24-31 | No. 13 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2013 | W 31-24 | No. 14 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2013 | L 14-63 | No. 4 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2013 | W 43-40 | No. 18 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2012 | L 23-32 | No. 18 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 2012 | L 23-35 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2012 | W 39-28 | No. 24 Northwestern | Unranked | Home |
| 2011 | L 14-30 | No. 20 Houston | No. 24 | Neutral |
| 2011 | L 7-45 | No. 15 Wisconsin | No. 20 | Road |
| 2011 | L 14-17 | No. 19 Nebraska | No. 12 | Home |
| 2011 | L 11-27 | No. 3 Alabama | No. 23 | Home |
| 2010 | L 24-37 | No. 24 Florida | No. 22 | Neutral |
| 2010 | L 22-28 | No. 11 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2010 | L 14-38 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2010 | L 3-24 | No. 17 Iowa | No. 22 | Road |
| 2010 | L 3-24 | No. 1 Alabama | No. 18 | Road |
| 2009 | W 19-17 | No. 13 LSU | No. 11 | Neutral |
| 2009 | L 7-24 | No. 15 Ohio State | No. 11 | Home |
| 2008 | L 24-38 | No. 5 USC | No. 6 | Neutral |
| 2008 | W 49-18 | No. 17 Michigan State | No. 7 | Home |
| 2008 | W 13-6 | No. 10 Ohio State | No. 3 | Road |
| 2008 | W 38-24 | No. 22 Illinois | No. 12 | Home |
| 2007 | W 24-17 | No. 20 Texas A&M | No. 24 | Road |
| 2007 | L 17-37 | No. 1 Ohio State | No. 24 | Home |
| 2007 | W 38-7 | No. 19 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2006 | W 20-10 | No. 17 Tennessee | No. 24 | Home |
| 2006 | L 3-13 | No. 17 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2006 | L 10-17 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2006 | L 6-28 | No. 1 Ohio State | No. 24 | Road |
| 2006 | L 17-41 | No. 4 Notre Dame | No. 19 | Road |
| 2005 | W 26-23 | No. 22 Florida State | No. 4 | Road |
| 2005 | W 35-14 | No. 14 Wisconsin | No. 10 | Home |
| 2005 | W 17-10 | No. 6 Ohio State | No. 16 | Home |
| 2005 | W 44-14 | No. 18 Minnesota | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 4-6 | No. 25 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 13-20 | No. 9 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 7-16 | No. 18 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | L 3-16 | No. 20 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | L 20-21 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 14-26 | No. 16 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | L 14-28 | No. 18 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | L 14-20 | No. 24 Minnesota | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 10-18 | No. 18 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 9-13 | No. 20 Auburn | No. 10 | Road |
| 2002 | L 7-13 | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 18 | Road |
| 2002 | L 24-27 | No. 13 Michigan | No. 15 | Road |
| 2002 | W 34-31 | No. 19 Wisconsin | No. 20 | Road |
| 2002 | W 40-7 | No. 8 Nebraska | Unranked | Home |
| 2001 | L 28-33 | No. 15 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 2001 | L 0-20 | No. 15 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2001 | L 7-33 | No. 2 Miami | Unranked | Home |
| 2000 | L 11-33 | No. 20 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2000 | W 22-20 | No. 22 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 2000 | L 6-45 | No. 14 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2000 | L 5-29 | No. 15 USC | No. 22 | Road |
| 1999 | W 24-0 | No. 18 Texas A&M | No. 13 | Neutral |
| 1999 | L 28-35 | No. 15 Michigan State | No. 13 | Road |
| 1999 | L 27-31 | No. 16 Michigan | No. 6 | Home |
| 1999 | W 31-25 | No. 16 Purdue | No. 2 | Road |
| 1999 | W 23-10 | No. 18 Ohio State | No. 2 | Home |
| 1999 | W 27-23 | No. 8 Miami | No. 3 | Road |
| 1999 | W 41-7 | No. 4 Arizona | Unranked | Home |
| 1998 | L 3-24 | No. 10 Wisconsin | No. 23 | Road |
| 1998 | L 0-27 | No. 15 Michigan | No. 19 | Road |
| 1998 | L 9-28 | No. 1 Ohio State | No. 13 | Road |
| 1997 | L 6-21 | No. 6 Florida | No. 11 | Neutral |
| 1997 | W 35-10 | No. 24 Wisconsin | No. 6 | Home |
| 1997 | W 42-17 | No. 19 Purdue | No. 6 | Road |
| 1997 | L 8-34 | No. 4 Michigan | No. 2 | Home |
| 1997 | W 31-27 | No. 7 Ohio State | No. 2 | Home |
| 1996 | W 38-15 | No. 20 Texas | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 1996 | W 29-17 | No. 16 Michigan | No. 11 | Road |
| 1996 | W 34-9 | No. 11 Northwestern | No. 15 | Home |
| 1996 | L 7-38 | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 4 | Road |
| 1996 | W 24-7 | No. 7 USC | Unranked | Home |
| 1995 | W 43-14 | No. 16 Auburn | No. 15 | Neutral |
| 1995 | W 27-17 | No. 12 Michigan | No. 19 | Home |
| 1995 | L 10-21 | No. 6 Northwestern | No. 12 | Road |
| 1995 | W 41-27 | No. 18 Iowa | No. 19 | Road |
| 1995 | L 25-28 | No. 5 Ohio State | No. 12 | Home |
| 1994 | W 38-20 | No. 12 Oregon | No. 2 | Neutral |
| 1994 | W 63-14 | No. 21 Ohio State | No. 1 | Home |
| 1994 | W 31-24 | No. 5 Michigan | No. 3 | Road |
| 1994 | W 38-14 | No. 14 USC | No. 8 | Home |
| 1993 | W 31-13 | No. 6 Tennessee | No. 13 | Neutral |
| 1993 | W 38-37 | No. 25 Michigan State | No. 14 | Road |
| 1993 | W 38-31 | No. 17 Indiana | No. 19 | Home |
| 1993 | L 6-24 | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 12 | Road |
| 1993 | L 13-21 | No. 18 Michigan | No. 7 | Home |
| 1992 | L 3-24 | No. 13 Stanford | No. 21 | Neutral |
| 1992 | L 16-17 | No. 8 Notre Dame | No. 22 | Road |
| 1992 | L 32-35 | No. 20 Boston College | No. 9 | Home |
| 1992 | L 14-17 | No. 2 Miami | No. 7 | Home |
| 1991 | W 42-17 | No. 10 Tennessee | No. 6 | Neutral |
| 1991 | W 35-13 | No. 12 Notre Dame | No. 8 | Home |
| 1991 | L 20-26 | No. 2 Miami | No. 9 | Road |
| 1991 | W 34-22 | No. 8 Georgia Tech | Unranked | Home |
| 1990 | L 17-24 | No. 6 Florida State | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 1990 | W 24-21 | No. 7 Notre Dame | No. 11 | Road |
| 1990 | L 14-19 | No. 5 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1990 | L 13-17 | No. 23 Texas | Unranked | Home |
| 1989 | W 50-39 | No. 19 BYU | No. 18 | Neutral |
| 1989 | W 16-13 | No. 19 Pittsburgh | No. 22 | Road |
| 1989 | L 23-34 | No. 1 Notre Dame | No. 17 | Home |
| 1989 | W 19-9 | No. 13 West Virginia | No. 16 | Home |
| 1989 | L 16-17 | No. 6 Alabama | No. 14 | Home |
| 1988 | L 3-21 | No. 1 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1988 | L 30-51 | No. 7 West Virginia | Unranked | Road |
| 1987 | L 10-35 | No. 14 Clemson | No. 20 | Neutral |
| 1987 | W 21-20 | No. 10 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1987 | L 0-10 | No. 19 Pittsburgh | Unranked | Road |
| 1987 | L 21-48 | No. 9 Syracuse | No. 18 | Road |
| 1987 | L 13-24 | No. 11 Alabama | No. 20 | Home |
| 1986 | W 14-10 | No. 1 Miami | No. 2 | Neutral |
| 1986 | W 23-3 | No. 8 Alabama | No. 2 | Road |
| 1985 | L 10-25 | No. 3 Oklahoma | No. 1 | Neutral |
| 1985 | W 19-17 | No. 10 Alabama | No. 8 | Home |
| 1985 | W 20-18 | No. 7 Maryland | No. 19 | Road |
| 1984 | W 37-30 | No. 16 Boston College | Unranked | Home |
| 1984 | L 14-17 | No. 12 West Virginia | Unranked | Road |
| 1984 | L 3-28 | No. 1 Texas | No. 11 | Road |
| 1984 | W 20-17 | No. 14 Iowa | No. 7 | Road |
| 1983 | W 13-10 | No. 15 Washington | No. 20 | Neutral |
| 1983 | T 24-24 | No. 16 Pittsburgh | Unranked | Home |
| 1983 | L 17-27 | No. 16 Boston College | Unranked | Road |
| 1983 | W 41-23 | No. 12 West Virginia | Unranked | Home |
| 1983 | W 34-28 | No. 11 Alabama | Unranked | Home |
| 1983 | L 34-42 | No. 7 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1982 | W 27-23 | No. 1 Georgia | No. 2 | Neutral |
| 1982 | W 19-10 | No. 5 Pittsburgh | No. 2 | Home |
| 1982 | W 24-14 | No. 13 Notre Dame | No. 5 | Road |
| 1982 | W 24-0 | No. 13 West Virginia | No. 9 | Road |
| 1982 | L 21-42 | No. 4 Alabama | No. 3 | Road |
| 1982 | W 27-24 | No. 2 Nebraska | No. 8 | Home |
| 1981 | W 26-10 | No. 8 USC | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 1981 | W 48-14 | No. 1 Pittsburgh | No. 11 | Road |
| 1981 | L 16-31 | No. 6 Alabama | No. 5 | Home |
| 1981 | W 30-24 | No. 15 Nebraska | No. 3 | Road |
| 1980 | W 31-19 | No. 11 Ohio State | No. 10 | Neutral |
| 1980 | L 9-14 | No. 4 Pittsburgh | No. 10 | Home |
| 1980 | W 29-21 | No. 19 Missouri | No. 14 | Road |
| 1980 | L 7-21 | No. 3 Nebraska | No. 17 | Home |
| 1979 | W 9-6 | No. 15 Tulane | No. 19 | Neutral |
| 1979 | L 14-29 | No. 10 Pittsburgh | Unranked | Home |
| 1979 | L 17-42 | No. 5 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 1978 | L 7-14 | No. 2 Alabama | No. 1 | Neutral |
| 1978 | W 17-10 | No. 16 Pittsburgh | No. 1 | Home |
| 1978 | W 27-3 | No. 13 Maryland | No. 2 | Home |
| 1978 | W 19-0 | No. 16 Ohio State | No. 3 | Road |
| 1977 | W 42-30 | No. 15 Arizona State | No. 8 | Neutral |
| 1977 | W 15-13 | No. 10 Pittsburgh | No. 8 | Road |
| 1977 | L 20-24 | No. 16 Kentucky | No. 10 | Home |
| 1977 | W 31-14 | No. 19 Houston | No. 5 | Home |
| 1976 | L 9-20 | No. 15 Notre Dame | No. 20 | Neutral |
| 1976 | L 7-24 | No. 1 Pittsburgh | No. 20 | Road |
| 1976 | L 7-12 | No. 2 Ohio State | No. 11 | Home |
| 1975 | L 6-13 | No. 4 Alabama | No. 8 | Neutral |
| 1975 | W 7-6 | No. 17 Pittsburgh | No. 10 | Road |
| 1975 | W 15-13 | No. 14 Maryland | No. 9 | Road |
| 1975 | W 39-0 | No. 10 West Virginia | No. 9 | Home |
| 1975 | L 9-17 | No. 3 Ohio State | No. 7 | Road |
| 1974 | W 41-20 | No. 12 Baylor | No. 7 | Neutral |
| 1974 | W 31-10 | No. 18 Pittsburgh | No. 10 | Road |
| 1974 | W 24-17 | No. 15 Maryland | No. 10 | Home |
| 1974 | W 24-20 | No. 20 Stanford | No. 8 | Home |
| 1973 | W 16-9 | No. 13 LSU | No. 6 | Neutral |
| 1973 | W 35-29 | No. 20 NC State | No. 6 | Home |
| 1972 | L 0-14 | No. 2 Oklahoma | No. 5 | Neutral |
| 1972 | W 28-19 | No. 18 West Virginia | No. 11 | Road |
| 1972 | L 21-28 | No. 7 Tennessee | No. 6 | Road |
| 1971 | W 30-6 | No. 12 Texas | No. 10 | Neutral |
| 1971 | L 11-31 | No. 12 Tennessee | No. 5 | Road |
| 1970 | L 13-41 | No. 17 Colorado | Unranked | Road |
| 1969 | W 10-3 | No. 6 Missouri | No. 2 | Neutral |
| 1968 | W 15-14 | No. 6 Kansas | No. 3 | Neutral |
| 1967 | W 13-8 | No. 10 NC State | Unranked | Home |
| 1967 | L 15-17 | No. 4 UCLA | Unranked | Home |
| 1966 | L 0-21 | No. 5 Georgia Tech | Unranked | Road |
| 1966 | L 11-49 | No. 3 UCLA | Unranked | Road |
| 1966 | L 8-42 | No. 1 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1965 | L 0-23 | No. 9 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1964 | W 27-0 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1964 | L 8-21 | No. 6 Navy | Unranked | Home |
| 1961 | W 30-15 | No. 9 Georgia Tech | No. 8 | Neutral |
| 1960 | W 41-12 | No. 19 Oregon | No. 15 | Neutral |
| 1960 | L 15-21 | No. 3 Syracuse | Unranked | Road |
| 1960 | L 8-21 | No. 11 Missouri | Unranked | Home |
| 1959 | W 7-0 | No. 11 Alabama | No. 14 | Neutral |
| 1959 | L 7-22 | No. 16 Pittsburgh | No. 15 | Road |
| 1959 | L 18-20 | No. 1 Syracuse | No. 10 | Home |
| 1958 | L 0-26 | No. 3 Army | Unranked | Road |
| 1957 | L 13-27 | No. 10 Army | Unranked | Home |
| 1956 | T 7-7 | No. 12 Pittsburgh | Unranked | Home |
| 1956 | L 9-13 | No. 9 Syracuse | Unranked | Road |
| 1956 | W 7-6 | No. 9 Ohio State | No. 18 | Road |
| 1956 | L 7-14 | No. 15 Army | Unranked | Road |
| 1955 | L 0-20 | No. 15 Pittsburgh | Unranked | Home |
| 1955 | W 21-20 | No. 18 Syracuse | Unranked | Home |
| 1955 | L 7-21 | No. 8 West Virginia | Unranked | Road |
| 1955 | L 14-34 | No. 8 Navy | Unranked | Home |
| 1955 | L 6-35 | No. 6 Army | No. 18 | Road |
| 1954 | L 7-20 | No. 20 TCU | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 14-19 | No. 14 West Virginia | No. 9 | Home |
| 1954 | W 14-12 | No. 6 Illinois | Unranked | Road |
| 1953 | L 19-20 | No. 7 West Virginia | Unranked | Home |
| 1953 | L 7-13 | No. 20 Pennsylvania | Unranked | Road |
| 1953 | L 0-20 | No. 16 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1952 | L 7-25 | No. 15 Syracuse | Unranked | Road |
| 1952 | L 7-34 | No. 1 Michigan State | No. 15 | Road |
| 1952 | T 20-20 | No. 16 Purdue | No. 20 | Road |
| 1951 | L 21-32 | No. 2 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1951 | L 14-20 | No. 12 Villanova | Unranked | Road |
| 1950 | L 7-41 | No. 1 Army | Unranked | Road |
| 1949 | L 0-24 | No. 18 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1949 | L 7-42 | No. 2 Army | Unranked | Road |
| 1948 | T 14-14 | No. 12 Michigan State | No. 6 | Road |
| 1947 | T 13-13 | No. 4 SMU | No. 5 | Neutral |
| 1945 | L 0-28 | No. 2 Navy | No. 12 | Road |
| 1944 | L 14-55 | No. 2 Navy | Unranked | Road |
| 1943 | L 6-14 | No. 3 Navy | Unranked | Road |
| 1939 | L 0-47 | No. 3 Cornell | Unranked | Road |
| 1938 | L 6-21 | No. 10 Cornell | Unranked | Road |
Methodology and coverage
A game qualifies when the opponent was ranked in the AP Top 25 at kickoff. Regular-season games use the poll recorded for that game week; postseason games use the last regular-season AP poll before bowl and playoff results. Final-season rankings never change qualification. Top 5 is a subset of Top 10, and Top 10 is a subset of Top 25. Games without a final score or a matching game-time poll row are excluded. Records use the final scores stored in the database and are not adjusted for wins or losses that were later vacated.
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