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{{Short description|Intercollegiate sports teams of Penn State University}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox school athletics
| name            = Penn State Nittany Lions
| logo            = Penn State Nittany Lions logo.svg
| logo_width      = 200
| university      = [[Pennsylvania State University]]
| association     = NCAA
| conference      = [[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] (primary)<br />[[Atlantic Hockey America]]  (women's ice hockey)<br />[[Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association|EIVA]]  (men's volleyball)
| division        = [[NCAA Division I|Division I]] ([[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]])
| director        = [[Patrick Kraft]]
| location        = [[State College, Pennsylvania]]
| teams           = 31
| stadium         = [[Beaver Stadium]]
| basketballarena = [[Bryce Jordan Center]]
| icehockeyarena  = [[Pegula Ice Arena]]
| baseballfield   = [[Medlar Field at Lubrano Park]]
| softballstadium = Nittany Lion Softball Park
| soccerstadium   = [[Jeffrey Field]]
| lacrossestadium = [[Panzer Stadium]]
| natatorium      = McCoy Natatorium
| arena2          = Holuba Hall<br />Lorenzo Wrestling Complex<br />Louis and Mildred Lasch Football Building<br />Multi-Sport Facility & Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track<br />Penn State Field Hockey Complex<br />[[Penn State Golf Courses]]<br />[[Rec Hall]]<br />Sarni Tennis Center
| symbol          = 
| mascot          = [[Nittany Lion]]
| nickname        = Nittany Lions and Lady Lions
| fightsong       = [[Fight On, State]]
| pageurl         = http://www.gopsusports.com/
| altlogo         = [[File:Penn State wordmark.svg|200px]]
}}
[[File:Big Ten logo in Penn State colors.svg|thumb|260px|Big Ten logo in Penn State's colors.]]
The '''Penn State Nittany Lions''' are the athletic teams of [[Pennsylvania State University]], except for the women's basketball team, known as the '''[[Penn State Lady Lions basketball|Lady Lions]]'''. The school colors are [[navy blue]] and white.<ref>{{cite web|title=Traditions|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/trads/psu-trads.html|publisher=Penn State Nittany Lions|access-date=December 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313053344/http://www.gopsusports.com/trads/psu-trads.html|archive-date=March 13, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The school mascot is the [[Nittany Lion]]. The intercollegiate athletics logo was commissioned in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|title=Intercollegiate Athletics Logo|url=http://visualeditorialstandards.psu.edu/graphic-identity-system/intercollegiate-athletics-logo/|publisher=The Pennsylvania State University|access-date=December 4, 2016}}</ref>

For most sports, Penn State participates as a member institution of the [[Big Ten Conference]] and [[NCAA Division I]] of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]] (NCAA), the highest level of [[college sports|collegiate level]] play. It is one of only 15 universities in the nation that plays [[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|Division I FBS football]] and [[List of NCAA Division I ice hockey programs|Division I men's ice hockey]]. Two sports, [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball|men's volleyball]] and [[Penn State Nittany Lions women's ice hockey|women's ice hockey]], participate in different conferences because they are not offered in the Big Ten Conference. The men's volleyball team competes in the [[Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association]] (EIVA) and women's ice hockey competes in [[Atlantic Hockey America]] (AHA). The fencing teams operate as independents.

Penn State has finished in the top 25 in every [[NACDA Directors' Cup]] final poll, a feat only matched by nine other institutions: [[Stanford Cardinal|Stanford]], [[UCLA Bruins|UCLA]], [[USC Trojans|USC]], [[Florida Gators|Florida]], [[Ohio State Buckeyes|Ohio State]], [[Texas Longhorns|Texas]], [[North Carolina Tar Heels|North Carolina]], and [[Michigan Wolverines|Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nacda.com/directorscup/nacda-directorscup-previous-scoring.html|publisher=Nacda Official Athletic Site|title=Directors Cup|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102202358/http://www.nacda.com/directorscup/nacda-directorscup-previous-scoring.html |archive-date=2011-01-02|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref>  The NACDA Director's Cup is a list compiled by the [[National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics]] that charts institutions' overall success in college sports.  Penn State's highest finish came in the 1998–99 standings when the Nittany Lions finished 3rd.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://graphics.fansonly.com/confs/nacda/graphics/9899D1Final.PDF |title=1998-99 Div. I Sears Directors' Cup Final Standings |access-date=2013-04-02 |archive-date=2013-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717234950/http://graphics.fansonly.com/confs/nacda/graphics/9899D1Final.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref>  PSU finished in 5th place in the 2013–14 standings; it was the fifth time the program finished in the top 5 and the tenth time the program finished in the top 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.psu.edu/story/320438/2014/07/09/athletics/penn-state-finishes-no-5-learfield-sports-directors’-cup-standings|title=Penn State finishes No. 5 in Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings|publisher=[[Penn State University]]|date=2014-07-09|access-date=2015-11-01|work=Penn State University Website}}</ref>

Penn State joined the Big Ten in 1991, after being a member of the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]] from 1976–79 and 1982-91.

==Sports==
[[File:Big Ten logo in Penn State colors.svg|thumb|180px|Big Ten logo in Penn State's colors]]
{| class="wikitable" style= " "
|-
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Penn State Nittany Lions|Men's sports|Women's sports|border=2}}
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions baseball|Baseball]] || [[Penn State Lady Lions basketball|Basketball]]
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions basketball|Basketball]] || Cross country
|-
| Cross country || [[Penn State Nittany Lions field hockey|Field hockey]]
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Football]] || Golf
|-
| Golf || Gymnastics
|-
| Gymnastics || [[Penn State Nittany Lions women's ice hockey|Ice hockey]]
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey|Ice hockey]] || [[Penn State Nittany Lions women's lacrosse|Lacrosse]]
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's lacrosse|Lacrosse]] || [[Penn State Nittany Lions women's soccer|Soccer]]
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer|Soccer]] || [[Penn State Nittany Lions softball|Softball]]
|-
| Swimming & diving || Swimming & diving
|-
| Tennis || Tennis
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions track and field|Track and field]]<sup>†</sup> || [[Penn State Nittany Lions track and field|Track and field]]<sup>†</sup>
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball|Volleyball]] || [[Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball|Volleyball]]
|-
| [[Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling|Wrestling]] || 
|-
| colspan="2" style="{{NCAA color cell|Penn State Nittany Lions}}; text-align:center" | '''Co-ed sports'''
|-
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | Fencing
|-
| colspan="2" style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Penn State Nittany Lions}}" | {{small|† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.}}
|}

===Baseball===
{{Main|Penn State Nittany Lions baseball}}
Penn State baseball currently plays their home games at 5,570-seat [[Medlar Field]] and have been coached by [[Mike Gambino]] since the 2024 season.  Since joining the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions won the 1996 regular season title and advanced to the [[Big Ten baseball tournament|Big Ten Tournament]] championship game twice, most recently in 2024.

Throughout its history, Penn State has played in 17 [[NCAA Division I baseball tournament|NCAA baseball tournaments]], advancing to the College World Series five times (1952, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1973) and finishing as runners-up to [[1957 California Golden Bears baseball team|California]] in 1957.  Penn State's most recent College World Series appearance came in 1973, while its most recent NCAA tournament berth came in 2000, when the Nittany Lions won the [[Montclair, New Jersey|Montclair]] Regional before falling in the [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] Super Regional.

===Basketball===

====Men's basketball====
{{Main|Penn State Nittany Lions basketball}}
Penn State's men's basketball program reached the [[Final Four]] once in 1954, though the best postseason finish in recent years occurred in 2001 with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen of the [[2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]] after a win over [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|UNC]] in the round of 32.  The most recent postseason championship for Penn State was the [[2018 National Invitation Tournament]] on March 29, 2018.  Penn State outscored Utah 82–66 to capture its second men's basketball national title in school history and its third postseason tournament title since winning the [[Atlantic-10]] Tournament in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=290920213|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719200650/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=290920213|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 19, 2017|title=Cornley, Penn State win second postseason title|date=2009-04-02|access-date=2015-11-01|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> The Nittany Lions lost in the first round of the 2011 [[2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2011/03/17/70619_recap.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318221205/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2011/03/17/70619_recap.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 18, 2011|title=Penn State vs. Temple – Recap – March 17, 2011 – College Basketball|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=2011-03-17|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> and appeared in the 2023 NCAA tournament, falling to the [[Texas Longhorns men's basketball|Texas Longhorns]] in the second round.

Notable alumni include: Frank Brickowski, John Amaechi, Calvin Booth, Mike Costello, Stanley Pringle, Geary Claxton, Jamelle Cornley, Lamar Stevens. Mike Rhodes is the current coach.

====Women's basketball====
{{Main|Penn State Lady Lions basketball}}
The [[Lady Lions]], the Penn State women's basketball team and the only athletic team not known as "Nittany Lions", have had more success than their male counterparts, often gaining berths into the [[NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship|women's NCAA tournament]], reaching the Final Four once in 2000. The Lady Lions have reached the [[NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship|NCAA tournament]] more than any other [[Big Ten]] team with 25 appearances as of 2014. The Lady Lions have won 8 [[List of Big Ten Conference women's basketball regular season champions|Big Ten Regular Season Championships]] and 2 [[Big Ten Conference women's basketball tournament|Big Ten tournament Championships]]. The most recent postseason championship won by Penn State was the [[Women's National Invitation Tournament|1998 Women's National Invitation Tournament]]. [[Carolyn Kieger]] was in her second season as head coach of the Lady Lions in 2020–21.

===Boxing===
Penn State organized its boxing program in 1919 under the direction of [[Dick Harlow]]. He was succeeded by [[Leo Florian Hauck]], who remained head coach until his death in 1950. His assistant, Ed Sulkowski, served as head coach until the program was dropped in 1954 due to lack of interest. Penn State won the first NCAA boxing tournament in 1932, which it also hosted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ring Sport Dropped By Penn State |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TwkrAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA24&dq |access-date=25 March 2025 |work=Reading Eagle |date=May 30, 1954}}</ref> The Lions also won pre-NCAA national titles in 1924, 1927, 1929, and 1930, during the time of a boxing rivalry with [[Navy Midshipmen|Navy]].<ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times|date=March 23, 1924 | page=S1 |title=COLLEGE RING TITLE WON BY PENN STATE; Victors Take Four Firsts and One Second in Boxing League's First Tourney. |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0716F8355812738DDDAA0A94DB405B848EF1D3|access-date=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times|date= March 29, 1925 | page=S1 |title=NAVY BOXERS WIN; CAPTURE 4 TITLES; Take Intercollegiate Tourney|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1925/03/29/archives/navy-boxers-win-capture-4-titles-take-intercollegiate-tourney-with.html|access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Navy Boxers Retain Intercollegiate Title|work= Reading Eagle|date= March 28, 1926|page= 19|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fqMhAAAAIBAJ&pg=3347,6151951&dq=intercollegiate+boxing&hl=en|access-date=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times|date= March 27, 1927 | page = S5 |title=PENN STATE BOXERS WIN COLLEGE TITLE; Score 22 Points to Navy's 21, Midshipmen Losing Chance by Dropping Extra Bout. EACH GAINS THREE CROWNS Flynn, M.I.T. 160-Pounder, Beaten by Wolff in Final, Later Prevents Navy Victory|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1927/03/27/archives/penn-state-boxers-win-college-title-score-22-points-to-navys-21.html|access-date=2010-04-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times|date= March 18, 1928 | page = 163 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1928/03/18/archives/navy-wins-crown-in-college-boxing-tallies-19-points-one-more-than.html|title=NAVY WINS CROWN IN COLLEGE BOXING; Tallies 19 Points, One More Than Penn State, to Capture Team Championship. WOLFF STOPS MAZZOTTE Defends 160-Pound Title, Scoring Knockout in Third—Grant Victor in Extra Round. Grant Wins Title. Levy Collapses at Finish.|access-date=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times|date= March 24, 1929 |page = 177 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/03/24/archives/penn-state-boxers-win-college-title-win-3-finals-for-23-points-as.html |title=PENN STATE BOXERS WIN COLLEGE TITLE; Win 3 Finals for 23 Points as Navy, Second, Gets 13-- Western Maryland 11. WOLFF AGAIN WINS CROWN Penn State Boxer Takes 160 Pound Title 3d Year in Row Only Champion to Survive. EPSTEIN OUTPOINTS FRY Penn State 115-Pounder Scores With Left—Hamas Beats Livoti to Regain Heavyweight Title. Penn State Gets 23 Points. Epstein Is Victor. Fish Defeats Davis.|access-date=2010-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Hartford Courant|date=March 23, 1930|page=C3|title=Penn State Boxers Win Second Straight Intercollegiate Title|access-date=2010-04-27|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/851488692.html?dids=851488692:851488692&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+23%2C+1930&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Penn+State+Boxers+Win+Second+Straight+Intercollegiate+Title&pqatl=google|archive-date=2012-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026124556/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/851488692.html?dids=851488692:851488692&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+23,+1930&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=Penn+State+Boxers+Win+Second+Straight+Intercollegiate+Title&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=New York Times|date= March 22, 1931 | page = S1 |title=NAVY'S BOXING TEAM WINS COLLEGE CROWN; Crinkley's Victory in Final Bout Gives Middies Title With Twenty Points. WESTERN MARYLAND SECOND Penn State, Defending Champion, Ties for Third With Syracuse Ringmen. Heavyweight Bout Decisive. BOXING TITLE WON BY NAVAL ACADEMY Drops Rival With Right. M.I.T. Cantain Victor.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/03/22/archives/navys-boxing-team-wins-college-crown-crinkleys-victory-in-final.html| access-date=2010-04-27 | first=Joseph C. | last=Nichols}}</ref>

===Cross country===
The men's cross country team won NCAA titles in 1942, 1947, and 1950.  Before the NCAA began sponsoring the cross country championship in 1938, and unlike today, the annual [[ICAAAA]] meet was a premier national championship event for track and field and cross country.  The team won ICAAAA championships in 1926, 1927, 1928 and 1930.  Penn State runners won the individual ICAAAA titles in 1920 (John Romig), 1927 and 1928 (William Cox, consecutively).  PSU men also won ICAAAA team titles in 1950, 1951, 1960 and 2000, as well as individual crowns in 1938, 1946, 1987 and 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecac.org/affiliates/IC4A/xcountry/history/all-time|access-date=2010-06-03|title=Inter-Collegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America All-Time Champions|archive-date=2010-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828231427/http://www.ecac.org/affiliates/IC4A/xcountry/history/all-time|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Fencing===
Penn State has been a [[fencing]] powerhouse, having won a record 13 [[NCAA Fencing team championship|national championships]] in the sport since the NCAA began awarding titles in combined men's and women's fencing in 1990. The team finished as champion or runner-up in 21 of the first 25 years of the combined tournament.<ref name="NC Fencing Championship History">{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/history/fencing/nc|title=NC Fencing Championship History|publisher=NCAA|date=2011-02-25|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> The program won six consecutive NCAA Championships from 1995 to 2000.<ref name="NC Fencing Championship History"/>

Emmanuil G. Kaidanov was the coach of the fencing squads during most of that period. The women's fencing team won national [[AIAW]] titles in 1980 and 1981, followed by an NCAA championship in 1983. The team recruits both nationally and throughout the world.

[[Andrew Mackiewicz]] won the  [[NCAA Fencing Championships|NCAA Men’s Sabre Championship]] in both his freshman and sophomore years, in 2015 and 2016, and went on to compete for the United States in the [[2020 Tokyo Olympics]] in 2021.

Penn State Nittany Lions assistant fencing coach George G. Abashidze, after a [[United States Center for SafeSport]] investigation found he had committed sexual misconduct by groping female fencing coach Jennifer Oldham in 2017, was banned by [[USA Fencing]] from its activities for three years due to his conduct, prompting Penn State to terminate him on March 4, 2019, ending his 10-year tenure with the team.<ref name=jen/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/06/penn-state-fencing-coach-ex-assistant-accused-of-engaging-in-ongoing-defamation-effort.html|title=Penn State fencing coach, ex-assistant accused of engaging in ongoing defamation effort|author=John Beauge |date=June 16, 2021|website=pennlive}}</ref> A Penn State investigation into the matter confirmed Oldham's assault and harassment claims against Abashidze, but maintained that the assistant coach had not violated any university policies.<ref name=jen/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altoonamirror.com/sports/psu/2022/09/psu-fencing-coach-suspended/|title=PSU fencing coach suspended}}</ref> Oldham sued Penn State in 2020, charging that it had tried to cover up the incident.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/03/fencing-club-owner-maintains-penn-state-has-tried-to-cover-up-sexual-assault-incident.html|title=Fencing club owner maintains Penn State has tried to cover up sexual assault incident|author=John Beauge|date=March 29, 2021|website=pennlive}}</ref>

In May 2020, a complaint was filed by Oldham after Glon allegedly failed to report sexual misconduct groping allegations against his assistant coach, George Abashidze.<ref name=jen/> After an investigation by [[SafeSport]] into the same matter, finding Abashidze responsible, he was ultimately required to serve a six-month term of probation for such failure.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/penn-state-fencing-coach-lawsuit-misconduct-20220519.html|title=Lawsuit alleging failure to act on sexual misconduct complaint against Penn State is dismissed|first=Susan|last=Snyder|website=inquirer.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/sports/college/psu/2021/11/16/psu-coach-reinstated-probation-failing-report-sexual-misconduct/8637439002/|title=Penn State coach reinstated with probation for failing to report sexual misconduct|first=SUSAN|last=SNYDER|website=York Dispatch}}</ref><ref name=jen>[https://www.pennlive.com/news/2024/10/penn-state-settles-suit-that-accused-ex-fencing-coach-of-sexual-harassment.html?outputType=amp "Penn State settles suit that accused ex-fencing coach of sexual harassment,"] ''Penn Live''.</ref>

In September 2022, Penn State placed head fencing coach Wes Glon on paid leave pending more information about restrictions imposed on him by [[USA Fencing]]; he subsequently retired in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/wes-glon-penn-state-fencing-coach-paid-leave-20220912.html|title=Penn State places head fencing coach Wes Glon on paid leave after allegations surface|first=Susan|last=Snyder|website=inquirer.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/article265485291.html|title=Penn State fencing head coach placed on administrative leave amid controversy, lawsuit|date=2022-09-08|publisher=Centre Daily|last=Andrews|first=Kyle J.|access-date=2023-04-16}}</ref> In April 2022, a former Penn State fencer had filed a federal complaint  in the [[United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania]] against Glon and the university alleging physical, verbal, and psychological abuse by Glon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statecollege.com/former-penn-state-fencer-sues-university-coach-wes-glon-for-alleged-abuse/|title=Former Penn State Fencer Sues University, Coach Wes Glon for Alleged Abuse|first=Matt|last=DiSanto|date=April 12, 2022|website=StateCollege.com}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.collegian.psu.edu/penn-state-fencing-head-coach-wes-glon-placed-on-paid-leave/article_4f56e112-2efd-11ed-b96b-cfae6ba164d1.html|title=Penn State fencing head coach Wes Glon placed on paid leave|author=Maddie Seelig|website=The Daily Collegian}}</ref> In an August 2023 ruling that allowed Moss’ lawsuit to proceed, U.S. District Court Judge [[Matthew Brann]] wrote that Glon’s alleged conduct "crossed the line between aggressive coaching and sexual harassment, and was "certainly unbecoming of a collegiate athletic professional."<ref name=cent>[https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/article293939434.html "Ex-Penn State fencer, university settle lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by longtime coach,"] ''Centre Daily''.</ref> In October 2024, the fencer, university, and Glon settled the lawsuit.<ref name=cent/>

===Field hockey===
[[File:NWstn Big10Tourn (98) (6312862271).jpg|thumb|Penn State (in white) v Northwestern match in 2011]]
The women's field hockey team is coached by Char Morett, a former Penn State field hockey player herself and 1984 Olympic bronze medalist.

Penn State is one of the premier programs in the nation with 28 [[NCAA]] Tournament appearances, the third most in the nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/gopsusports/docs/field_hockey_2012_yearbook?mode=window&pageNumber=1|title=Field Hockey Yearbook|publisher=Penn State Athletics|website=ISSUU|year=2012|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> Since joining the Big Ten in 1992, the Nittany Lions have been dominant with more Big Ten Tournament titles than any other team and the second most regular season titles behind [[Michigan Wolverines|Michigan]].

In 2007, the women's [[Field Hockey]] team reached the National Championship game, but fell to undefeated [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|UNC]], 3–0. In their tournament run, they were able to defeat two-time defending champion [[University of Maryland, College Park|Maryland]], 1–0, and defending national runner-up [[Wake Forest University|Wake Forest]], 2–0. Jen Long was nominated for the [[Honda Award]] for her efforts. They also finished as NCAA runners-up in 2002, losing to Wake Forest in the title game 2–0 after defeating Old Dominion 3–2 in the semifinals.  2002 marked the first time Penn State reached the NCAA Finals and second time reaching the Final Four. The team won the AIAW national championships in 1980 and 1981. In 2011 the women's field hockey team won its fifth ever Big Ten title after defeating Michigan 3–2, and first since 1998 when they again defeated Michigan 3–1.

===Football===
{{Main|Penn State Nittany Lions football}}
[[File:Penn State M-Rob JoePa 2005 2.JPG|thumb|Penn State's football team]]
[[File:BlueBandPano.jpg|thumb|Panorama of the crowd at [[Beaver Stadium]] on October 13, 2007]]
[[File:PSU Senior Section.JPG|thumb|The Senior Section at Beaver Stadium, dressed to spell out the letter "S"]]
Penn State has a large football following and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to its campus; the surrounding area is known as "Happy Valley" for tailgating and games on autumn Saturdays in [[Beaver Stadium]]. The largest crowd ever at Beaver Stadium was on October 21, 2017, as 110,823 people watched the Nittany Lions defeat the [[University of Michigan]] by a score of 42–13. The school has earned a reputation as "[[Linebacker]] U" for the number of high-quality linebackers trained.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2005/04/04-22-05tdc/04-22-05dsports-06.asp|title=Bringing back linebacker U}}</ref> [[Joe Paterno]] was the head coach for the Nittany Lion football team from 1966 until he was fired on November 9, 2011, in the aftermath of the [[Penn State child sex abuse scandal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/paterno-fired-over-penn-st-child-abuse-scandal/|title=Paterno fired over Penn St. child abuse scandal|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=November 9, 2011}}</ref> He was regarded as one of the most successful national coaches, holding the record for wins and bowl appearance. Penn State plays in two football "trophy games" with other members of the Big Ten: the Governor's Victory Bell with the [[University of Minnesota]] and the [[Land Grant Trophy]] game versus [[Michigan State University]].

Prior to joining the Big Ten, Penn State was one of the strongest of the independent schools in college football. They played a number of schools regularly, including [[University of Pittsburgh|Pitt]], [[Syracuse University|Syracuse]], [[West Virginia University|West Virginia]], [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]], [[University of Maryland, College Park|Maryland]], and [[University of Alabama|Alabama]]. Penn State has won the prestigious [[Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy]], awarded for Eastern football supremacy, a record 29 times as of 2013. Penn State has also been named the ECAC FBS Team of the Year for a record 13th time.

Penn State won consensus [[NCAA Division I-A national football championship|National Championships]] in 1982 and 1986, both under Paterno. The 1986 team won by defeating the [[Miami Hurricanes football|University of Miami]] in the 1987 [[Fiesta Bowl]], which remains one of the most watched college football games in history. The school has had a number of other undefeated teams including 1909, 1911, 1912, 1920, 1921, 1947, 1968, 1969, 1973, and 1994, some of which have been awarded [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|national championships]] by various selecting organizations. Penn State currently has a FBS [[List of Penn State Nittany Lions bowl games|bowl record]] of 31–20–2.

Penn State is also among the leaders nationwide in terms of players advancing to the professional level. As of 2006, 29 former Penn State players and coaches were on the rosters of [[National Football League|NFL]] teams, the tenth-highest such placement rate in the country. Penn State has been represented in at least one of the teams participating in the [[Super Bowl]] 37 of the 41 times the championship game has been played.<ref name="nfl">{{cite web|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=11640|title=Nittany Lions Well-Represented on Super Bowl XLI Squads|publisher=Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics|date=2007-01-22|access-date=2007-01-23 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070223165320/http://www.gopsusports.com/pressreleases/pressrelease.cfm?anncid=11640 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-02-23}}</ref>

A report indicated that Penn State's football program ranks 12th nationwide in terms of economic contributions to each program's university, athletic department, conference, and community. The report, based on ticket sales, sponsorships, football program expenses, athletic department expenses (non-football), shared conference profits, and county revenue figures during home football games, revealed that the Nittany Lions are presently worth roughly [[United States dollar|US$]]63 million.<ref name="forbes">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/business/2006/12/22/college-football-ncaa-business_cz_jg_1222collegefootball.html |title=The Most Valuable College Football Teams |work=Forbes|author=Jack Gage, Peter J. Schwartz |date=2006-12-22 |access-date=2007-01-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103233644/http://www.forbes.com/business/2006/12/22/college-football-ncaa-business_cz_jg_1222collegefootball.html |archive-date=January 3, 2007 }}</ref>

In July 2012, the NCAA announced several punitive measures as a result of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal. In addition to vacating all wins between 1998 and 2011, Penn State was banned from post-season play for four years, and the number of scholarships was reduced. Players were free to transfer during the 2012 season without sitting out a year, but few did so. After details of the case emerged, the NCAA restored all vacated wins and rescinded both the remaining ban on post-season play and scholarship reduction.

===Gymnastics===
In 2007, the men's [[gymnastics]] team won their NCAA record 14th national championship, by defeating powerhouse [[University of Oklahoma|Oklahoma]] at [[Rec Hall]], with the score of 221.000–220.200, denying them a [[three-peat]].  The women's team won the AIAW national championship twice, in 1978 and 1980, edging out other dominant teams such as Cal State-Fullerton and Utah.

===Ice hockey===
====Men's ice hockey====
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey}}
[[File:Penn State at Wisconsin IMG 4422.jpg|thumb|Penn State v Wisconsing game in 2023]]
Aside from five years in the 1940s, the men's ice hockey program has had varsity status since the 2012–13 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uscho.com/news/id,18751/CommentaryWhichWayWillDominosFallAfterPennStatesIntroduction.html|title=Commentary: Which Way Will Dominos Fall After Penn State's Introduction?|publisher=U.S. College Hockey Online|date=2010-09-13 |first1=Dave |last1=Starman |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105022922/http://www.uscho.com/news/id,18751/CommentaryWhichWayWillDominosFallAfterPennStatesIntroduction.html|archive-date=2013-01-05|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref>  The team plays in the [[Pegula Ice Arena]]<ref name="gopsusports.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/091710aaa.html|title=Pegulas Commit Historic Gift To Penn State For New Arena And Hockey Program|date=2010-09-17|publisher=Penn State Official Athletic Site|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920134814/http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/091710aaa.html |archive-date=2010-09-20|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref><ref name="sports.espn.go.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/news/story?id=5580469|title=Penn State men's, women's hockey programs to move from club level to Division I|publisher=ESPN|date=2010-09-17|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Giger|first=Cory|date=2010-08-06|url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/541062/Penn-State--close--to-adding-arena--Division-I-hockey.html?nav=746|title=Penn State 'close' to adding arena, Division I hockey|publisher=The Altoona Mirror|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/09/13/penn-state-reportedly-set-to-add-hockey/|title=Penn State Reportedly Set to Add Hockey|publisher=NHL Fanhouse|date=2010-09-13|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> and competed as an independent Division I team in the 2012–2013 season. In the 2013–2014 season, the team began play in the Big Ten conference's first year of sponsorship of men's ice hockey. Recently, the team achieved the number one ranking in Division I men's hockey for the first time in program history.

Before becoming a varsity program, the men's [[college ice hockey|ice hockey]] team, the Icers, competed at the [[American Collegiate Hockey Association]] (ACHA) Men's Division I level and was a member of the [[Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League]] (ESCHL) from 2007–08 through 2010–11. Penn State won seven ACHA DI National Championships in 1984, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. The Division II men's hockey club team were champions of the [[University Hockey League]] during the 2003–04 and 2001–02 seasons; they were runners-up during the 2002–03, 2000–01, and 1998–99 seasons.<ref>{{cite web| title = UHL History| publisher = [[University Hockey League]]| url = http://uhl.pitthockey.com/uhlhistory.php| access-date = 2010-06-29| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110715085508/http://uhl.pitthockey.com/uhlhistory.php| archive-date = 2011-07-15| url-status = dead}}</ref>

====Women's ice hockey====
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions women's ice hockey}}
The women's program moved to [[NCAA Division I]] level beginning in the 2012–13 season<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2010/09/13_pennstate.php|title=Penn State Ready to Play|publisher=College Hockey News|date=2010-09-13|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref> and joined [[College Hockey America]] (CHA), becoming the fifth member of the conference.<ref name="CHA Directors accept Penn State application for admission">{{cite web|last=Staff|work=CHA|url=http://www.chawomenshockey.com/news/2011-12_news/psu070611|title=CHA Directors accept Penn State application for admission|date=July 6, 2011|access-date=July 18, 2011|archive-date=August 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809075616/http://www.chawomenshockey.com/news/2011-12_news/psu070611|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the 2023–24 season, CHA merged with the [[Atlantic Hockey|Atlantic Hockey Association]] to form [[Atlantic Hockey America]].<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://atlantichockeyonline.com/news/2024/4/29/mens-ice-hockey-atlantic-hockey-and-college-hockey-america-join-to-form-atlantic-hockey-america.aspx |title=Atlantic Hockey and College Hockey America Join to Form Atlantic Hockey America |publisher=Atlantic Hockey America |date=April 30, 2024 |access-date=May 2, 2024}}</ref> The team also plays in the Pegula Ice Arena.<ref name="gopsusports.com"/><ref name="sports.espn.go.com"/>

Before becoming a varsity program, the women's ice hockey team, the Lady Icers, competed at the ACHA Women's Division I level in the [[Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League]] (ECWHL).

===Lacrosse===
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions men's lacrosse|Penn State Nittany Lions women's lacrosse}}
The Penn State women's lacrosse teams have won two NCAA titles, in addition to three United States Women's Lacrosse Association championships in 1978, 1979, and 1980.

The Penn State men's lacrosse team dates to 1913. Penn State has appeared in four [[NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship]] tournaments, including in 2003, 2005, 2013, and 2017.

Penn State has had seven alumni and coaches<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uslacrosse.org/about-us-lacrosse/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-inductees|title=Hall of Fame Inductees|publisher=US Lacrosse|access-date=2017-04-27}}</ref> inducted into the [[National Lacrosse Hall of Fame]], including Mary McCarthy Stefano, Gillian D. Rattray, Barb Jordan, Betsy Williams Dougherty, Candace "Candy" Finn Rocha, Joanne Connelly and Thomas R. Hayes.

===Soccer===
====Men's soccer====
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions men's soccer}}
Before the NCAA began its tournament in 1959, the annual national champion was declared by the [[Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association]] from 1926 to 1958, the result of polls and the subjective opinion of the ISFA administrators.  In that time, Penn State shared eight national championships and was selected three times as champion outright (1929, 1938, 1954).  The rival College Soccer Bowl was held from 1950–1952 in an attempt to decide a national champion on the field. Penn State gained a last-minute tie in the 1950 championship final.  The team won in 1951; however, the ISFA failed to select Penn State that year.

====Women's soccer====
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions women's soccer}}
The women's soccer team won its first NCAA national championship in 2015. The program has been particularly strong in recent years, as the team won 15 straight Big Ten Championships through the 2012 season, which was an all-time Big Ten record for women's teams. The streak surpassed the 12 by Michigan swimming & diving of the 1990s and led the then-ongoing run by Northwestern's women's tennis squad, which had won 14 straight titles through 2011.

===Softball===
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions softball}}
[[File:UT softball 2007.jpg|thumb|Penn State v Texas game in 2007]]
The Nittany Lions softball team began play in 1965. The team has made ten NCAA Tournament appearances in 1983, 1985, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 and 2024. The current head coach is [[Clarisa Crowell]].

===Track and field===
{{main article|Penn State Nittany Lions track and field}}
Before the NCAA began sponsoring an [[NCAA Division I Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships|indoor national championship]] in 1965, the men's indoor track and field team won [[IC4A]] titles in 1942 and 1959.  PSU men also won IC4A team titles in 1984, 1987, 2001, 2003 and 2006.<ref name="ic4a">{{cite web|url=http://www.ecacsports.com/sports/winter/mtrack/Championships/PastChampions|access-date=2010-06-04|title=Men's Indoor Track and Field Past Champions|archive-date=2009-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229104426/http://www.ecacsports.com/sports/winter/mtrack/Championships/PastChampions|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Volleyball===
Penn State is home to one of the top men's and women's [[volleyball]] programs. Penn State is one of only 5 schools—and the only school not in California—to win an NCAA Championship for both men and women's volleyball, the others being Stanford, UCLA, [[USC Volleyball|USC]], and [[Long Beach State]].

====Men's volleyball====
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball}}
[[File:PSU volleyball at the WH.jpg|thumb|The [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's volleyball|Penn State men's volleyball]] team is honored at the [[White House]] by President [[George W. Bush]] in June 2008 after winning the [[NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship|2008 NCAA Championship]]]]
The men's volleyball team is coached by Mark Pavlik. The program has won two NCAA [[NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship|National Championships]] in 1994 and 2008 and 16 [[EIVA]] titles out of 17 years, including 10 consecutive. They finished as NCAA National runners-up in 1982, 1995 and 2006, to UCLA each time (twice at Rec Hall). They reached the NCAA final four 24 times including 13 out of the last 14 years through the 2008 season and an NCAA record 10 consecutive (1998–2008).

The men's first national title came in 1994, when they beat powerhouse [[UCLA Bruins|UCLA]] in five sets after being down 11–4 in the fourth set and then winning the fourth 15–12 and the fifth with the same score. The win made Penn State the first school outside of California in the 24-year history until then to win an NCAA Men's volleyball championship. They won the NCAA title again in 2008, defeating [[Pepperdine Waves|Pepperdine]], 3–1. With the win, Penn State men and women's programs swept the volleyball championships in the same academic year, joining Stanford from 1996–97 to be the only schools to accomplish the rare feat.

Pavlik was named the 2008 "National Coach of the Year" by the [[American Volleyball Coaches Association]].

====Women's volleyball====
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions women's volleyball}}
[[File:Penn State Women's Volleyball warming up prior to the 2014 Women's Volleyball National Championship.jpg|thumb|Penn State warming up before the 2014 NCAA championship against [[Brigham Young University]] in [[Oklahoma City, Oklahoma]] in [[Chesapeake Energy Arena]]]]
The Penn State women's volleyball team, one of the nation's premier volleyball programs, is coached by [[Russ Rose]], who, since his first season in 1979, has led the Nittany Lions to a record of 1,189 and 186, an .865 winning percentage, through the end of 2015. Rose stands as the NCAA Division I all-time winningest coach, as he owns the NCAA Division I Records for win percentage and total victories.<ref>{{cite web|title=Women's Volleyball Coaching Records|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_volleyball_RB/2015/Coaches.pdf|website=ncaa.org|publisher=NCAA|access-date=1 December 2015}}</ref> Rose has won all but 51 of the program's wins. On December 17, 2009, Rose earned his 1,000th career victory with a win against [[Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball|Hawai{{okina}}i]] in the [[2009 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament|2009 NCAA National Semifinals]].  In all but one season under Rose, there has been at least one [[AVCA]] [[All-American]] on his team.

The program is one of only two [[NCAA Division I|DI]] universities to appear in every NCAA tournament (1981–2015). They have won 8 NCAA [[NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship|National Championships]], the 2nd most all-time, in 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2024. They were the national runners-up in 1993, 1997, and 1998 and also reached the Final Four in 1994 and 2012.

The team achieved unprecedented success from 2007–10. The Nittany Lions won four consecutive national titles in that span, the most consecutive titles in NCAA Division I history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four the Glory! Women's Volleyball Beats Cal, 3–0, for NCAA title|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/121810aad.html|website=GoPSUsports.com|publisher=Penn State Athletics|access-date=1 December 2015|archive-date=22 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222172222/http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/121810aad.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In that historic stretch, Penn State won 109 consecutive matches (Sept. 21, 2007-Sept. 10, 2010), 111 consecutive sets (Dec. 15, 2007-Dec. 18, 2008), 94 consecutive home matches (Sept. 1, 2006-Dec. 11, 2010), and 55 consecutive road matches (Sept. 28, 2007-Sept. 10, 2010), all NCAA Division I records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Division I Women's Volleyball Records|url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_volleyball_RB/2015/D1.pdf|website=NCAA|publisher=NCAA|access-date=November 30, 2015}}</ref>

The Lions were extraordinarily successful when Penn State was in the Atlantic 10 conference, as they won the title all 8 years without losing a single conference match before joining the Big Ten. In the Big Ten, the team has won 16 titles since 1991, including a conference record 8 straight (2003–10).<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Big Ten Women's Volleyball Records Book|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/w-volley/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/VBRecordsBook.pdf|website=[[Big Ten Conference]]|publisher=Big Ten Conference|access-date=1 December 2015}}</ref> During Big Ten play, Penn State went undefeated 6 times (1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009).

===Wrestling===
{{main|Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling}}
{{see also|NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships}}
[[File:United States Naval Academy Varsity Wrestling-3386.jpg|thumb|Penn State and [[Navy Midshipmen|Navy]] wrestlers in 1949]]
Penn State has one of the most competitive Division I [[collegiate wrestling]] programs in the nation. Before joining the Big Ten, Penn State was a member of the [[Eastern Wrestling League#Former schools|Eastern Wrestling League]] from 1976 to 1992. Before that, Penn State was a member of the [[Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association#Former EIWA schools|Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association]] (EIWA).

In April 2005, Penn State broke ground on a construction project designed to expand and modernize [[Rec Hall]] for the students, faculty, and staff who use the facility. As part of this renovation, Intercollegiate Athletics created the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex which ranks among the nation's finest facilities in the sport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lorenzo Wrestling Complex|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/facilities/lorenzo-complex.html|publisher=Penn State University|access-date=2014-01-01|archive-date=2016-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301101343/http://www.gopsusports.com/facilities/lorenzo-complex.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Under head coach [[Cael Sanderson]], Penn State entered the final session of the 2019 NCAA Championships having already clinched their eighth team title in nine years. Sanderson's squad left the National Finals and [[PPG Paints Arena]] with three individual national champions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/wrestling/article/2019-03-22/ncaa-wrestling-championships-penn-state-wins-2019-national-title|title=NCAA wrestling championships: Penn State wins 2019 national title {{!}} NCAA.com|newspaper=Ncaa.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref> Penn State had five NCAA finalists for the fourth straight year and won three titles, beginning at 285 with senior [[Anthony Cassar]] of [[Rocky Hill, New Jersey]] winning his first. [[Jason Nolf]] of [[Yatesboro, Pennsylvania]] and [[Bo Nickal]] of [[Allen, Texas]] each won their third straight crowns. The Nittany Lions won the team race with 137.5 points, finishing over 40.0 points ahead of second place [[Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling|Ohio State]], which had 96.5. [[Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling|Oklahoma State]] finished third with 84.0. Penn State was the only team to score over 100.0 points.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.trackwrestling.com/predefinedtournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1562206404564&pageName=|website=trackwrestling.com|title=Events|access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>

Penn State has won 13 NCAA Championships including 12 of the last 14. The Nittany Lions have taken home the title in 1953, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. Penn State holds the top two highest NCAA Championship points records breaking Iowa's 170-point mark with 172.5 in 2024 and 177 in 2025.

==Team sports==
Penn State offers a program of "team sports," programs that have not been granted full varsity status but are members of the Athletic Department and receive greater support than club sports. Penn State team sports "compete nationally at the highest level."<ref name="athletics.psu.edu">{{cite web|title=The Official Site of Penn State Team Sports|url=https://www.athletics.psu.edu/teamsports/|publisher=Penn State}}</ref> Rugby (men's and women's) has been a team sport since 2005.  Ice Hockey (men's and women's) was a team sport from 2005 until 2011 and has since been elevated to varsity status.<ref name="athletics.psu.edu"/>

===Rugby===
[[File:Nichole F. Lopes Penn State Women's Rugby college 2008.jpg|thumb|A 2008 Penn State [[Lady Ruggers]] match vs [[West Chester Golden Rams|West Chester University of Pennsylvania]]]]
The Penn State rugby program is classified by the university as a "Team Sport" within Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics Department, and therefore receives university support (paid coaches, facilities, health insurance, etc.) equivalent to a varsity program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Penn State Men's Rugby|publisher=The Official Site of Penn State Team Sports|url=http://rugby.psu.edu/men/}}</ref> As of 2011, Penn State rugby was funded 52% by alumni donations, 32% by player dues, and 16% by university contribution.<ref>{{cite web|title=Penn State Rugby|publisher=Penn State|url=http://rugby.psu.edu/}}</ref>

Penn State [[college rugby|rugby]] was founded in 1962 and plays in [[College Premier Division|Division 1-A]]. Penn State has been one of the most successful programs in college rugby. Penn State advanced to the national semifinals 10 times from 1989 to 2007 and reached the finals 5 times from 1989 to 2001. With 76 registered players, Penn State was ranked as the largest college rugby program in the United States in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Examiner.com|title=Gamecocks 4th largest rugby club in US|date=2009-10-12}}</ref> Penn State made headlines when they defeated favored BYU 48–46 in the 2018 D1A quarterfinal to reach the semifinals.

The women's rugby team fields a perennially competitive side, winning national titles in 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. The 2014 Penn State Women's team won their ninth Collegiate National Championship, with a 58–0 semifinal victory over [[West Chester University]] and a 38–0 triumph in the championship match against [[Stanford]].

===Rugby sevens===
Penn State appeared in the first eleven editions (2010–22) of the [[Collegiate Rugby Championship]] (CRC), advancing to the quarterfinals seven times. The CRC was conducted annually from 2011–2019 at [[PPL Park]] in suburban Philadelphia and was the highest profile college rugby sevens tournament in the U.S. In the [[2011 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship|2011 CRC]], Penn State beat [[Ohio State Buckeyes|Ohio State]] in a 12–10 match to qualify for the quarterfinals, where Penn State lost to eventual champions [[Dartmouth Big Green|Dartmouth]] 7–12.

Penn State has been successful in other rugby sevens competitions.  For example, Penn State won the 2011 Subaru 7s tournament,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Rugby Mag|title=Larrimer Cup a CRC Warmup|date=2011-05-26|url=http://www.rugbymag.com/news/colleges/collegiate-sevens/1016-larrimer-cup-a-crc-warmup.html}}</ref> and won the 2012 Halloween 7s tournament led by tournament MVP Blaze Feury.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Rugby Mag|title=Penn State Wins Halloween 7s|date=2012-11-05|url=http://www.rugbymag.com/news/colleges/collegiate-sevens/6311-penn-state-wins-halloween-7s.html}}</ref> Penn State finished second at the 2012 [[Big Ten Universities|Big Ten 7s]], losing to Wisconsin in the final and missing out on qualification for the 2012 [[USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships]].<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Rugby Mag|title=Wisconsin Wins Big Ten 7s|date=2012-11-10|url=http://www.rugbymag.com/news/colleges/collegiate-sevens/6388-wisconsin-wins-big-ten-7s.html}}</ref>

The women's rugby sevens team won the CRC championship in 2013, 2014, and 2015, as well as the USA Rugby sevens national championship in 2015.

==Intercollegiate club sports==
The university is home to a number of intercollegiate club sports that the university doesn't field at the NCAA level and/or sports not sponsored by the NCAA.

===Billiards===
Two Penn State students have won the national intercollegiate individual championship in billiards.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010215246/http://www.acui.org/content.aspx?menu_id=14&id=13181| url=http://www.acui.org/content.aspx?menu_id=14&id=13181 |archive-date=October 10, 2016| title=History of ACUI Billiards Champions since 1937 | publisher=Association of College Unions International |access-date=2017-07-05}}</ref> In 1982 Thomas Golly won the men's title. In 1988 Janet Dordell captured the women's crown.

===Crew===
[[file:Penn Fresh Crew, 1914 LCCN2014696270.jpg|thumb|Penn Fresh Crew in 1914]]
Penn State fields an intercollegiate club rowing team that competes on the national level.  The team has participated in several regatta events, including the [[Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta]] and the American Collegiate Rowing Association national championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clubs.psu.edu/up/psucrew/|title=Penn State Crew|publisher=Penn State|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref>

===Croquet===
Penn State's Club Croquet team was established in 2010 and has been growing since with nearly 150 members. It serves as the sole croquet team at Penn State and competes each year at the [[United States Croquet Association]] (USCA) collegiate championships. In 2017, the team won the USCA Collegiate National Championship in golf croquet.

===Cross Country===
The Penn State Club Cross Country is a member of the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association (NIRCA). The women's team has won five NIRCA National Championships (2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016) and the men's team has won one (2019).

===Gymnastics===
Penn State Club Gymnastics participates in NAIGC (National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs) competition. In recent history both the men's and women's teams have had great success, including national titles for the men in 2009 and 2010. The women have had similar success with top-five finishes every year since 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.naigc.net/nationals.php |title=NAIGC |access-date=2014-07-05 |archive-date=2014-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165859/http://www.naigc.net/nationals.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Ice hockey===
In addition to the varsity men's and women's ice hockey teams, PSU fields a men's club team in [[American Collegiate Hockey Association]] Division 2 and the [[Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League]], as well as a [[Penn State Women's Ice Hockey Club|women's club team]] in [[American Collegiate Hockey Association]] Women's Division 1 and the [[Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League]].

===Roller hockey===
The PSU Roller Hockey team competes in [[National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association]] at the NCRHA Division I level. The team is a Division I member of the [[Eastern Collegiate Roller Hockey Association]] (ECRHA). Penn State also fields a team in the B Division of the NCRHA and ECRHA. The PSU B team won the NCRHA B Division Championship in 2010, the university's first national title in roller hockey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ncrha.org/article.php?article_id=54305|title=Penn State Claims National Championship|publisher=National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref>

===Squash===
Gail Ramsay won the intercollegiate women's squash championship a record four times in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CMynfIb2jMYC&q=Gail+ramsay+squash&pg=PR3 |title =Squash: A History of the Game |first =John|last= Zug|page=337|year=2003|publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=0743229908}}</ref>

===Swimming and Diving===

Penn State also fields a competitive club swim and dive team that competes throughout the school year. With a membership of 100+, including all talents from former D1 swimmers to beginners, it is one of the more popular club sports at Penn State. The team finished 4th out of 50+ teams at the 2013 East Coast Collegiate Swim and Dive Club National Championships at Georgia Tech.

===Men's ultimate===
Penn State's team, named SPANK, competes in the [[USA Ultimate]] College Series at the D-1 level. They are in the Ohio Valley region, and face rival University of Pittsburgh at the regional championship every year. The B-team, Love Tap, also competes at the D-1 level, and serves as a developmental team for SPANK.

===Men's Water Polo===
The Men's Club Water Polo team competes in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association and has won nine Mid-Atlantic Division Championships (1998, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022) to qualify for the National Collegiate Club Championship.

==National championships==

Penn State claims 84 national team championships all-time, excluding titles from [[IC4A]] and [[Amateur Athletic Union|AAU]] competitions and the [[NCAA Emerging Sports for Women|NCAA emerging sport]] of women’s rugby.<ref>{{cite web | title = Traditions – Penn State University Official Athletic Site | publisher = gopsusports.com | url = https://gopsusports.com/trads-national-champions | access-date = 2025-02-18 | archive-date = 2008-05-06 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080506142504/http://gopsusports.cstv.com/trads/national-champions.html | url-status = live }}</ref> 56 of these are NCAA championships,<ref>{{cite web | title = Schools with the Most NCAA national championships | publisher=NCAA|url=https://www.ncaa.org/champadmin/champs_listing1.html | access-date = 2008-05-09 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080419050813/http://www.ncaa.org/champadmin/champs_listing1.html |archive-date = 2008-04-19}}</ref> which rank [[List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I national championships|fifth all-time]], trailing [[Stanford University|Stanford]], [[University of California, Los Angeles|UCLA]], [[University of Southern California|USC]], and the [[University of Texas at Austin]].

Most of Penn State's women's championships prior to 1982 occurred under the auspices of the [[Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women]] (AIAW); indeed, four women's teams won national championships in 1980 alone. The NCAA did not start sponsoring women's championships until the 1981–82 academic year. Some of the men's championships occurred [[Pre-NCAA intercollegiate championships|prior to the NCAA sponsoring a championship]] in that sport (for example, the NCAA did not start sponsoring a men's soccer championship until 1959), and some sports have never had recognized NCAA championships (such as Division I [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|FBS football]]).

===NCAA team championships===

Penn State University has won 56 NCAA team national championships.<ref>{{cite web|title=Summary–(NCAA) All Divisions/Collegiate Total Championships| url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/champs_records_book/Overall.pdf|access-date=2015-02-02}}</ref>
*'''Men's (31)''':
**[[NCAA Boxing Championship#Team titles|Boxing]] (1): 1932 (unofficial)
**[[NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship#Team titles|Cross country]] (3): 1942, 1947, 1950
**[[NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships#Team titles|Gymnastics]] (12): 1948, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1976, 2000, 2004, 2007
**[[NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championship#Team titles|Volleyball]] (2): 1994, 2008
**[[NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships#Team titles|Wrestling]] (13): 1953, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
*'''Women's (12)''':
**[[NCAA Fencing Championships#Womens team titles|Fencing]] (1): 1983
**[[NCAA Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship#Team titles|Lacrosse]] (2): 1987, 1989
**[[NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship#Team titles|Soccer]] (1): 2015
**[[NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship#Team titles|Volleyball]] (8): 1999, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2024
*'''Co-ed (13)'''
**[[NCAA Fencing Championships#Co-ed team titles|Fencing]] (13): 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014
{{See also|Big Ten Conference NCAA national team championships|List of NCAA schools with the most NCAA Division I championships}}

===Other national team championships===
The Penn State Nittany Lions have won 36 national team titles in current and former [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] sports that were not bestowed by the NCAA:

*'''Men's (25)''':
**Boxing (4): 1924, 1927, 1929, 1930
**Cross Country (4): 1926,<ref name="csm 1926">{{cite news| title=United States Champions for 1926| work=The Christian Science Monitor| date=1926-12-31| page=6| access-date=2010-05-14| url=https://secure.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/314879682.html?FMT=AI&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Dec+31%2C+1926&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor++(1908-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=6&desc=United+States+Champions+for+1926}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 1927,<ref name="csm 1927">{{cite news| title= United States Champions for 1927| work= The Christian Science Monitor| date= Dec 31, 1927| page= 8| access-date= 2010-05-14| url= https://secure.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/315205202.html?FMT=AI&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Dec+31%2C+1927&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor++(1908-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=8&desc=United+States+Champions+for+1927}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 1928,<ref name="csm 1928">{{cite news| title=United States Sports Champions for the Year 1928| work=The Christian Science Monitor| date=Dec 31, 1928| page=8| access-date=2010-05-14| url=https://secure.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/309174752.html?FMT=AI&FMTS=CITE:AI&date=Dec+31%2C+1928&author=&pub=The+Christian+Science+Monitor+(1908-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=8&desc=United+States+Sports+Champions+for+the+Year+1928}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 1930<ref name="csm 1930">{{cite news| title= United States Champions for the Year 1930| work= The Christian Science Monitor| date= Dec 31, 1930| page= 8| access-date= 2010-05-14| url= https://secure.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/303560312.html?FMT=AI&FMTS=AI:CITE&type=historic&date=Dec+31%2C+1930&author=&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=UNITED+STATES+CHAMPIONS+FOR+THE+YEAR+1930}}{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
**[[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|Football]] (2): 1982, 1986
**Gymnastics (1): 1944<ref>{{cite sign|type=curated display|title=Louis Bordo captained the 1944 undefeated Lion team that won the National AAU team title.|publisher=Penn State All-Sports Museum|location=University Park, Pennsylvania|date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
**Indoor Track & Field (2): 1942,<ref name=ITF>{{cite web |url=https://ecacsports.com/sports/2016/5/21/sports-mtrack-ind-Championships-PastChampions.aspx |title=Past Champions Men's Indoor Track & Field |website=[[IC4A|ECAC]] |access-date=2024-06-25}}</ref> 1959<ref name=ITF/>
**Soccer (11): 1926, 1929, 1933, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1949, 1954, 1955
**Wrestling (1): 1921
*'''Women's (11)''':
**Bowling (1): 1979
**Fencing (2): 1980, 1981
**Field Hockey (2): 1980, 1981
**Gymnastics (2): 1978, 1980
**Lacrosse (3): 1978, 1979, 1980
**Rifle (1): 1947<ref>{{cite sign|type=curated display|title=Origins in World War I|publisher=Penn State All-Sports Museum|location=University Park, Pennsylvania|date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
{{See also|Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women championships|List of NCAA schools with the most AIAW Division I national championships|List of NCAA schools with the most Division I national championships}}

Additionally, below are 37 national team titles won by Penn State sports club teams (and Athletics Department "Team Sports") at the highest collegiate level in non-NCAA sports:

*'''Men's (9)''':
**Cricket (1): 2025<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricclubs.com/NationalCollegeCricketAssociation/info.do?matchId=385&clubId=10170|title=National Collegiate Cricket Championship 2025 - First Leg|access-date=May 1, 2025|date=March 15, 2025|website=National College Cricket Association}}</ref>
**Downriver Canoe/Kayak (2): 2015, 2016
**Golf croquet (1): 2017
**Shotokan karate (5) ''(Kata)'': 2003, 2004, 2007; ''(Kumite)'': 2007, 2013
*'''Women's (22)''':
**Archery (1) ''(Compound Bow)'': 2010
**Equestrian (1) ''(English)'': 1989
**Shotokan karate (3) ''(Kumite)'': 2001, 2003, 2007
**Rugby (12): 1997, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
**Rugby 7s (4): ''([[Collegiate Rugby Championship|CRC]])'' 2013, 2014, 2015; ''([[USA Rugby]])'' 2015
**Team Handball (1): 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onwardstate.com/2018/04/27/penn-state-womens-handball-wins-national-championship/|title=Penn State Women's Handball Wins National Championship|last=Connelly|first=Steve|date=2018-04-27|website=[[Onward State]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627081645/https://onwardstate.com/2018/04/27/penn-state-womens-handball-wins-national-championship/|archive-date=2018-06-27|url-status=live|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref>
*'''Co-ed (6)''':
**Archery (1) ''(Compound Bow)'': 2010
**Cycling (5) ''(Track)'': 1987, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2005
{{See also|Intercollegiate sports team champions|List of Big Ten Conference national championships|Pre-NCAA intercollegiate championships}}

==Big Ten championships==
Since joining the Big Ten in 1991, Penn State has won 124 total championships (92 regular season titles and 32 tournament championships).

===Big Ten regular season championships===
*1992–93 – Women's Volleyball*
*1993–94 – Women's Basketball*, Field Hockey, Men's Soccer, Women's Volleyball
*1994–95 – Women's Basketball*, [[1994 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Football]]
*1995–96 – Baseball
*1996–97 – Women's Volleyball*
*1997–98 – Field Hockey*, Women's Volleyball*
*1998–99 – Field Hockey, Women's Soccer, Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Volleyball
*1999–00 – Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball
*2000–01 – Women's Soccer 
*2001–02 – Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving
*2002–03 – Women's Basketball, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer
*2003–04 – Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Volleyball
*2004–05 – Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Volleyball
*2005–06 – Field Hockey, [[2005 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Football]]*, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Swimming & Diving, Women's Volleyball
*2006–07 – Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball
*2007–08 – Men's Gymnastics, Women's Soccer, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Women's Volleyball 
*2008–09 – Field Hockey, [[2008 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Football]]*, Women's Soccer, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Women's Volleyball
*2009–10 – Women's Cross Country, Women's Soccer, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Women's Volleyball
*2010–11 – Women's Soccer*, Women's Volleyball
*2011–12 – Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Wrestling
*2012–13 – Women's Basketball, Field Hockey, Men's Soccer*, Women's Soccer,  Women's Volleyball
*2013–14 – Women's Basketball*, Field Hockey*, Men's Soccer, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Outdoor Track & Field, Women's Volleyball, Wrestling*
*2014–15 – Men's Gymnastics, Women's Soccer 
*2015–16 – Women's Cross Country, Women's Soccer*, Wrestling*
*2016–17 – [[2016 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Football]], Women's Soccer*, Wrestling, Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's Outdoor Track & Field 
*2017–18 – Women's Volleyball*, Wrestling
*2018–19 – Women's Soccer, Wrestling*, Men's Lacrosse
*2019–20 – Men's Ice Hockey
*2020–21 – Wrestling*, Women's Soccer
*2021–22 – Men's Soccer, Wrestling
*2022–23 – Field Hockey*, Wrestling 
*2024–25 – Women’s Volleyball*, Wrestling
<nowiki>* denotes shared regular season conference title</nowiki>

===Big Ten tournament championships===
*1994–95 – Women's Basketball
*1995–96 – Field Hockey, Women's Basketball
*1996–97 – Field Hockey
*1997–98 – Field Hockey
*1998–99 – Field Hockey, Women's Soccer
*2000–01 – Women's Soccer
*2001–02 – Women's Soccer
*2002–03 – Men's Soccer
*2005–06 – Men's Soccer
*2006–07 – Women's Soccer
*2008–09 – Women's Soccer
*2010–11 – Wrestling
*2011–12 – Field Hockey, Wrestling
*2012–13 – Field Hockey, Wrestling
*2013–14 – Wrestling
*2014–15 – Women's Lacrosse
*2015–16 – Women's Soccer, Wrestling
*2016–17 – Field Hockey, Men's Ice Hockey
*2017–18 – Women's Soccer
*2018–19 – Wrestling, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Lacrosse
*2019–20 – Women's Soccer
*2021–22 – Men's Soccer
*2022–23 – Women's Soccer, Wrestling
*2023-24 - Wrestling
*2024-25 - Wrestling

==Atlantic 10 championships==
During Penn State's years of membership in the [[Atlantic 10 Conference]] (1982–91) and earlier when it was known as the Eastern 8 Conference (1976–79), Penn State won 70 total championships.

===Atlantic 10 championships (37)===
*1976–77 – Men's Basketball (West)*<ref>{{cite book|title=2015–16 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Media Guide|year=2015|editor-first=Drew|editor-last=Dickerson|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|location=Richmond, Virginia|url=https://issuu.com/atlantic10conference/docs/1516_a10mbb_guide/1?SPSID=799991&SPID=136228&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600|access-date=2016-09-06}}</ref>
*1978–79 – Men's Cross Country<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Men's Cross Country Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/MXC.pdf?SPSID=802610&SPID=136508&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref>
*1982–83 – Men's Cross Country, Baseball (West)<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Baseball Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/baserecords.pdf?SPSID=799982&SPID=136225&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref>
*1983–84 – Men's Golf,<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/Golf/Golf_Records.pdf?SPSID=799958&SPID=136220&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref> Men's Swimming & Diving<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Men's Swimming & Diving Record Book|year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/Mens%20S&D.pdf?SPSID=799952&SPID=136217&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600|access-date=2016-09-07|archive-date=2016-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012140224/http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/Mens%20S%26D.pdf?SPSID=799952&SPID=136217&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1984–85 – Women's Basketball*,<ref>{{cite book|title=2015–16 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Media Guide|year=2015|editor-first=Tom|editor-last=Waterman|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|location=Richmond, Virginia|page=77|url=https://issuu.com/atlantic10conference/docs/fullwbbbook-web/1?SPSID=799995&SPID=136229&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600|access-date=2016-09-06}}</ref> Women's Volleyball,<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Women's Volleyball Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/volleyball/VBRecords.pdf?SPSID=799977&SPID=136224&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600|access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref> Men's Swimming & Diving
*1985–86 – Women's Basketball*, Women's Volleyball, Men's Swimming & Diving
*1986–87 – Women's Volleyball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Swimming & Diving, Men's Golf
*1987–88 – Women's Volleyball, Men's Cross Country, Men's Golf
*1988–89 – Women's Volleyball, Field Hockey (West),<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/FieldHockey/FieldHockeyRecords.pdf?SPSID=799943&SPID=136216&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref> Men's Cross Country, Men's Soccer (West),<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/Mens%20Soccer_thru2014.pdf?SPSID=799925&SPID=136213&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref> Men's Golf
*1989–90 – Women's Volleyball, Field Hockey, Men's Cross Country, Men's Soccer (West), Women's Cross Country,<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Women's Cross Country Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/WXC.pdf?SPSID=802610&SPID=136508&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref> Men's Golf
*1990–91 – Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Field Hockey, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Baseball (West), Men's Golf
'''*''' denotes shared regular season conference/division title

===Atlantic 10 Tournament championships (33)===
*1978–79 – Men's Tennis<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Men's Tennis Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/Mens%20Tennis.pdf?SPSID=806313&SPID=136908&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref>
*1982–83 – Women's Basketball, Softball,<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Softball Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/softball.pdf?SPSID=799955&SPID=136219&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref> Women's Tennis<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Record Book| year=2016|publisher=Atlantic 10 Conference|url=http://www.atlantic10.com/fls/31600/pdfs/Womens%20Tennis.pdf?SPSID=806313&SPID=136908&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=31600 |access-date=2016-09-07}}</ref>
*1983–84 – Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball
*1984–85 – Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Softball, Women's Tennis
*1985–86 – Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis
*1986–87 – Women's Volleyball, Women's Tennis
*1987–88 – Women's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Softball, Women's Tennis
*1988–89 – Women's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Tennis
*1989–90 – Women's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Field Hockey, Women's Tennis
*1990–91 – Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball, Women's Volleyball, Field Hockey, Women's Tennis

==Other conference championships==
Of Penn State's 29 varsity athletic programs, several programs are not sponsored by the Big Ten and have competed in other conferences, now and in the past.

'''Men's Volleyball'''
* [[Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association|EIVA]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eivavolleyball.com/releases/2020-21/EIVA/3-11-2021_Tourney_Page|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313224246/https://www.eivavolleyball.com/releases/2020-21/EIVA/3-11-2021_Tourney_Page|archive-date=March 13, 2021|url-status=dead|title=EIVA All-Time Champions|access-date=2021-04-21}}</ref> 1972, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2023, 2024

'''Women's Ice Hockey'''
* [[College Hockey America]]: [[2021 CHA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament|2021]] (regular season), [[2023 CHA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament|2023]] (rs & tournament), [[2024 CHA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament|2024]] (rs & tournament), [[2025 AHA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament|2025]] (rs & tournament)

'''Wrestling'''
* [[Eastern Wrestling League]] (member 1975–1992)<ref name="EWLArchive">{{cite web | url=http://ewlwrestling.com/Archives/index.htm | title=Eastern Wrestling League Archive | first1=Allen | last1=Brown | first2=Bruce | last2=Closson | publisher=Eastern Wrestling League | access-date=2011-02-11 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418001025/http://ewlwrestling.com/Archives/index.htm | archive-date=2011-04-18 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
:Team Dual Meet Champions:1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986* (tie), 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992
:Tournament Champions: 1976, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

==Olympians==
{{main|List of Pennsylvania State University Olympians}}

Athletes (129) and coaches/faculty members (12) from Penn State have won 17 gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 28 bronze medals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/psu/sports/c-varsitys/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/psu-olympians.pdf|title=Penn State Olympians|access-date=2014-01-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/081004aal.html |title=All Time Penn State Olympians |access-date=2008-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422225718/http://bigten.cstv.com/genrel/081004aal.html |archive-date=2009-04-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://btn.com/2012/08/13/big-ten-totals-35-medals-including-15-gold-at-olympics/ | title=Big Ten totals 35 medals, including 15 Gold, at Olympics| newspaper=Big Ten Network| date=13 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2016/8/1/12333612/penn-state-alums-olympic-games-rio-2016-ali-kreiger-frank-molinaro-matt-anderson|title=Reppin' In Rio: Penn Staters In The 2016 Olympic Games|work=Black Shoe Diaries|first=Tim|last=Aydin|date= Aug 1, 2016 |publisher= [[Vox Media, Inc.]]|access-date=2016-08-11}}</ref> The University had its most representatives participating in the [[2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games]] with 21 participants earning eight medals, also the most ever.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.psu.edu/story/417856/2016/07/19/athletics/school-record-20-penn-staters-participating-rio-olympic-games|title=School record 20 Penn Staters participating in Rio Olympic Games|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Penn Stater|edition=July/August 2019|page=26|title=Tokyo Drift|volume=106|number=6|location=University Park, Pennsylvania|publisher=Penn State Alumni Association}}</ref>

Five former Penn State student-athletes earned medals in the [[2012 London Olympic Games]]. Women's volleyball stars [[Megan Hodge]] and [[Christa Harmotto]] earned silver medals after falling to Brazil in the gold-medal match. Additionally, women's soccer players [[Erin McLeod]] and [[Carmelina Moscato]] came home with bronze medals playing for the [[Canada women's national soccer team]]. Finally, [[Natalie Dell]] earned Penn State's first rowing medal with her bronze-medal performance in the women's quadruple sculls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/genrel/081312aab.html|title=Five Penn State Alums Earn Olympic Medals|publisher=Penn State Official Athletic Site|date=2012-08-13|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref>  Penn State sent 19 participants to the 2012 Summer Games, a school record at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://live.psu.edu/story/60465|title=School record 19 Penn Staters head to 2012 Olympic Games|date=2012-07-25|publisher=Penn State University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804184059/http://live.psu.edu/story/60465 |archive-date=2012-08-04|access-date=2013-08-17}}</ref><ref name="psu">{{cite web|url=http://alumni.libraries.psu.edu/lore1.html|title=Winter Olympic Games: Athleticism in the Snow, 2010 Games: February 12–28, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada|access-date=2013-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515194535/http://alumni.libraries.psu.edu/lore1.html|archive-date=2013-05-15|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="oly">{{cite web|url=http://www.olympedia.org/athletes/96074|title=Olympedia, Kurt Oppelt Biographical information|access-date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>

==Facilities==
[[File:Rec Hall PSU.jpg|200px|thumb|right|[[Rec Hall]]]]
The football team plays in [[Beaver Stadium]]. The men's and women's basketball teams play in the [[Bryce Jordan Center]]. Most of the other indoor teams play at [[Rec Hall]], which was previously the long term home for the basketball teams as well. The school also is home to the [[Horace Ashenfelter|Ashenfelter]] Multi-Sport Facility for indoor track. Other indoor facilities include Lasch Building & Holuba Hall for football; White Building houses gymnastics & fencing; and the Lorenzo Wrestling Complex is within Rec Hall.

A new [[baseball]] stadium named [[Medlar Field at Lubrano Park]] opened in June 2006. The stadium is host to both the University baseball team as well as the [[State College Spikes]], a [[minor league]] baseball team. The ballpark is oriented towards the east, offering a view of [[Mount Nittany]]. The softball team plays at its new home, the Nittany Lion Softball Park, which opened in 2011. [[Jeffrey Field]] is home to the soccer program. The lacrosse teams play at the Penn State Lacrosse Field which opened in 2012 next to the Ashenfelter Multi-Sport Facility. The hockey teams both play at the [[Pegula Ice Arena]]. The field hockey team plays at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex which is located adjacent to Bigler Field, and opened in 2005.

Additionally, the university operates the [[Penn State Golf Courses]], two courses for the golf teams, students, faculty, and the general public. The Intercollegiate Athletics Department operates the [[Stone Valley Recreation Area]], approximately twenty miles southeast of State College.

==Penn State All-Sports Museum==
The Penn State All-Sports Museum,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/museum/|title=All-Sports Museum|publisher=Penn State athletics|access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref> a museum honoring all Penn State Nittany Lion athletes, is located near Gate B of [[Beaver Stadium]]. The upper level of the museum is dedicated to [[Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball|Penn State basketball]] and other indoor sports, while the lower level of the museum is dedicated to outdoor sports.

The [[College football|football]] exhibit on the lower level features the [[Heisman Trophy]] won by [[John Cappelletti]] and a collection of several other trophies and awards, in addition to honoring the [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State football team]], the [[Penn State Blue Band]], Penn State [[Cheerleading]], and the [[student athlete]]s who have portrayed the [[Nittany Lion]] mascot. The museum opened in February 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=More Than 1,400 Tour the Penn State All-Sports Museum On Opening Day|date=February 18, 2002|publisher=Penn State Athletics|url=http://www.gopsusports.com/genrel/021802aaa.html|access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of college athletic programs in Pennsylvania]]
*[[Lacrosse in Pennsylvania]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pennsylvania State University athletics}}
* {{Official website}}

{{The Pennsylvania State University}}
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[[Category:Penn State Nittany Lions| ]]