The athletic teams of Pennsylvania State University combine to make up the Penn State Nittany Lions. Also known as the Nittany Lions, they compete in the NCAA Division I and the Big Ten Conference. In the last 13 years of the NCAA Directors Cup, the Nittany Lions have finished in the top 25 teams each year. In the sport of football, the Penn State Nittany Lions Football Team represents the Pennsylvania State University.

Joe Paterno, born on December 21st 1926 in Brooklyn, New York is the current head coach of the Nittany Lions for the game of football. He has been the Nittany Lions head coach since 1966 and is one of the only three active coaches who have been given a place in the coveted College Football Hall of Fame.

The Beaver Stadium is the home to the Nittany Lions Football Team and is located on the campus of the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. The stadium is dedicated to James. A. Beaver, a former governor of Pennsylvania (1887-91). He was also the president of the university's board of trustees. The Beaver stadium has a seating capacity for 107,282 fans and is considered to be the largest stadium in the United States. Till now, the largest crowd that gathered at the stadium had been at the game between Penn State and Nebraska. The venue recorded a total of 110,753 fans. The match ended with Penn State defeating Nebraska by 40-7.