Kerry Collins. Ki-Jana Carter. Kyle Brady. Bobby Engram. The Penn State football story is not complete without a chapter on the 1994 season.
Led by head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions undefeated ‘94 campaign had everything a fan could want in a season. Well, almost everything.
At the time, Penn State was a force to be reckoned with in the college football world. After a 10-2 season the year prior that culminated in a commanding Citrus Bowl victory over No. 6 Tennessee, there was a quiet, confident buzz in Happy Valley preceding 1994.
After jumping out to a strong 5-0 start, a stretch that included a win over No. 14 USC, the Nittany Lions were playing as advertised. Collins and Carter were elite on offense, and the average margin of victory was a whopping 34 points for the blue and white.
On October 15, Paterno’s squad would head north to Ann Arbor for a date with the No. 5 Michigan Wolverines. The eyes of the nation would descend upon the Big House for a top-5 matchup that would set the tone for the remainder of the season. For a team with National Championship aspirations, this was a chance for Penn State to silence the critics and set itself up for a path to a title.
After jumping out to an early 16-0 advantage, it looked like the Nittany Lions would do just that and cruise to an easy victory. But with the help of Michigan running back Tyrone Wheatley, the Wolverines made it a ballgame.
The maize and blue went on a 17-0 run to take the lead in the third quarter. After dueling scores by John Witman and Tim Biakabutuka, the contest was even at 24 points apiece. With less than three minutes remaining in regulation, Collins found Engram in the end zone to put Penn State ahead. Brian Miller would go on to intercept a pass by Michigan quarterback Todd Collins, giving the Nittany Lions the win and subsequently, the No. 1 ranking.
From there, Penn State would go on to down No. 21 Ohio State 63-14 in an iconic beatdown in Beaver Stadium. However, after the victory, the pollsters deemed Penn State to be the No. 2 team in the land, behind Nebraska. The Cornhuskers had just defeated No. 2 Colorado 24-7 at the time, but the vote remains curious to fans after the Nittany Lions’ lumping of the Buckeyes.
After defeating Indiana, Penn State mounted a comeback against Illinois the following week after falling into an early, 21-point deficit. Despite the scare, the team would finish out the regular season with an undefeated, 11-0 record.
Penn State wasn’t the only team to finish with a perfect record in 1994. Over in Lincoln, Nebraska, Tom Osborne’s Cornhuskers were tearing up the Big Eight conference. They hit No. 1 in the polls early in the season, and by week 10, were a permanent fixture in the top spot. The Nittany Lions still stood at No. 2.
Led by quarterback Tommie Frazier and a star-studded defense, Big Red recorded victories over No. 13 UCLA and No. 16 Kansas State, in addition to No. 2 Colorado, en route to a 12-0 year.
Due to contractual obligations, Penn State was required to play in Pasadena as the Big Ten Champion. There was nothing stating that the top two teams in the country needed to face off to crown a National Champion, a fatal flaw in what ultimately led to one of the biggest letdowns in Penn State history.
When the bowl matchups were decided, it was Nebraska who would take on Dennis Erickson’s Miami Hurricanes in the Orange Bowl, and Penn State who would face Rich Brooks and the Oregon Ducks in the “Granddaddy Of Them All.”
The standard was that if the No. 1 team won its bowl game, it would likely walk away with the national title. Penn State essentially needed a Miami victory to have a shot at claiming the trophy.
After a hard-fought, back-and-forth matchup in South Florida, it was ultimately Nebraska who would win 24-17, all but cementing itself as National Champions.
The next day, Penn State played one of the most memorable, dominant, statement-making games in school history. Fueled by an 83-yard touchdown dash by Carter to start the game for the Nittany Lion offense, the team would go on to beat Oregon and win the Rose Bowl by a score of 38-20.
As predicted after the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day, the Associated Press and Coaches Poll would eventually vote Nebraska the No. 1 team in the country, dashing any hope Penn State had of claiming its first championship since 1986.
But the decision didn’t come without its fair share of controversy. To most, the Nittany Lions looked to be the best team in college football in 1994. They boasted one of the most intimidating offenses of all time, and Nebraska’s unit didn’t nearly come close.
Some may point to the team’s occasional defensive lapses as its Achilles’ heel. Was the offense so overpowering that it forced Penn State’s weakness to be showcased for more time on the field? Perhaps.
Another question that people raised, and often still do, about Nebraska’s title was in the realm of popularity. Osborne was a highly regarded coach, but lacked the main prize in his trophy case. As he was nearing retirement, many believed that the voters wanted to give him the honor of being named National Champion following an undefeated season.
With countless other conspiracies swirling to this day, people will continue to talk about and debate the 1994 season for a long time. When Nebraska comes to Beaver Stadium on Saturday, it will be hard to watch the teams duke it out without thinking about what could have been.
Though Penn State still holds an unclaimed title for that incredible season, it lacked the opportunity to prove what it deserved. The 1994 team will always be remembered as the National Champion that never was.
Jamie is a third-year statistics student from Chappaqua, NY. He loves to swim and is a member of the club team here at Penn State. Jamie is also in the Schreyer Honors College, and wishes there was an advanced course in college football fandom (scored 118/133 on the mascot quiz). He’s an avid ping-pong player, dairy lover, and has met two U.S. Presidents. If you have anything to share, or want to debate the AP Poll with someone, email [email protected] or reach out on instagram @jamie.ly3.