2012 record 8–4 (6–2 Big Ten) Offensive scheme Pro Style | Division Leaders Division | |
Head coach Bill O'Brien (1st year) | ||
The 2012 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill O'Brien in his first season and played its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, US. It was a member of the Big Ten Conference and plays in the Leaders Division. Penn State was ineligible to play in a bowl game for the 2012 season due to sanctions imposed in wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.
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O'Brien was hired as Penn State's 15th head football coach, replacing Hall of Fame coach, Joe Paterno. He was introduced as the head coach at a press conference on January 7, 2012. The team added player names to the back of their jerseys to recognize the players who stayed with the program despite adversity, and also wore a blue ribbon to support child abuse victims.
After losing its first two games, the Nittany Lions finished their season winning eight of their final 10 to finish with a record of eight wins and four losses (8–4). They were not eligible to participate in a bowl game despite their winning record.
Coaching staff
Roster
Wide receiver Shawney Kersey left the team on September 12, 2012 for "personal reasons". On September 28, 2012, quarterback and tight end Paul Jones left the Penn State football team.
Awards
Despite the Lions' ineligibility to play in bowl games, several players were named to the All-Conference Team or received other individual awards.
Post-season
Four players were invited to the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, held February 20 to 26 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana: Jordan Hill, Gerald Hodges, Michael Mauti, and Matt Stankiewitch.