2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Previous season

The Nittany Lions were coming off of back-to-back losing seasons, finishing 3–9 in 2003 and 4–7 in 2004, capping a stretch from late 1999 where Minnesota upset the #2 Nittany Lions with a late field goal until the goal line stand at Indiana that featured four of five seasons being losing seasons and the lone winning season in 2002 featuring many frustrating close losses. This stretch was called "The Dark Years", sometimes including 2002 as well. The team finished the 2004 season with wins over Indiana and Michigan State, which helped springboard momentum into the 2005 season that gave many optimism for the 2005 Nittany Lions.

Preseason

The team returned 18 starters from last year's squad. Eight starters returned on offense, led by starting quarterback Michael Robinson who has also played at wide receiver, tailback, and punt returner during his first three years at Penn State. Robinson played exclusively under center after the graduation of Zack Mills.

Nine defensive starters return from a unit did not allow more than 21 points in a game in 2004. Also returning was safety Chris Harrell who suffered a neck injury in 2003 and missed the 2004 season.

Michael Robinson, Alan Zemaitis, and Paul Posluszny were elected tri-captains of the football team in 2005. Posluszny was the first junior captain since 1968.

Penn State started the season unranked in both the AP and the Coaches college football preseason polls.

Pre-season awards

Alan Zemaitis Second-team Sporting News All-American Third-team Street & Smith's All-American First-team Sporting News All-Big Ten

Schedule

Penn State did not play Big Ten teams Indiana and Iowa this year.

Coaching staff

Joe Paterno – Head Coach

Dick Anderson – Offensive Line (Guards and Centers)

Tom Bradley – Defensive Coordinator and Cornerbacks

Galen Hall – Offensive Coordinator and Running Backs

Larry Johnson, Sr. – Defensive Line

Bill Kenney – Offensive Tackles and Tight Ends

Mike McQueary – Wide Receivers and Recruiting Coordinator

Brian Norwood – Safeties

Jay Paterno – Quarterbacks

Ron Vanderlinden – Linebackers

John Thomas – Strength and Conditioning

Coaches

Joe Paterno AFCA Coach of the Year Associated Press Coach of the Year Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Home Depot Coach of the Year Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year Walter Camp Coach of the Year George Munger Award winner Dave McClain Big Ten Coach of the Year

Other awards

2005 Lambert Trophy winner FWAA Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week (October 8)

Post season

Penn State finished the season ranked number 3 in both the final AP and Coaches college football polls, earning Penn State its 13th Top 5 finish under Joe Paterno.

The team's unexpected success helped Penn State finish in the top four in football attendance for the 15th consecutive year, averaging 104,859 for seven home games. Three crowds topped 109,000: 109,865 vs. Wisconsin, 109,839 vs. Ohio State, and 109,467 vs. Purdue, ranking two through four as the largest crowds ever at Beaver Stadium. Penn State finished the season with a sellout crowd of 77,773 at the FedEx Orange Bowl.

Instead of declaring early for the NFL draft, Levi Brown and Paul Posluszny both announced their intentions to return for their senior season.

NFL draft

Six seniors would go on and be drafted in the 2006 NFL Draft.