(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 1986 2017 1986 National Champs – Nittany Lions The 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Penn State winning the national championship. Coached by Joe Paterno, they defeated Miami (Fl) 14–10 in the Fiesta Bowl. This Fiesta Bowl was the first in the game’s history to decide the national championship, launching it into the …