Penn State opens its football season at home in 69 days against Marshall.
There’s no No. 69 on this year’s football roster, but in 1969, the Lions completed a second straight unbeaten season and finished No. 2 in the national polls.
Penn State, fresh off their unbeaten 1968 season and a win in the Orange Bowl against Kansas, opened the year ranked No. 3 and fast moved up to No. 2 after an easy win against Colorado.
The Lions bounced all around the top ten, dropping all the way to No. 8 after a close win at Syracuse in October. Penn State climbed back up to No. 2 following dominant wins to close the season against North Carolina State and Pitt.
Of course, this was the year of the famed Arkansas/Texas showdown that saw President Nixon declare the winner the No. 1 team in the country. Penn State downed No. 6 Missouri in Miami and ultimately turned down a chance to visit the White House.
It was the second of five unbeaten seasons for Penn State under Joe Paterno.
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