PSU Football Eras
When PSUstories.com makes reference to specific eras of Penn State football (in addition to 19th, 20th, & 21st centuries), they are defined as seen in the list below.
Penn State Football All-Time = 1887 to present
Modern Era (aka Modern QB Era) = 1950 to present (this conveniently coincides with both the beginning of modern quarterback play at Penn State & the arrival of Rip Engle and Joe Paterno in State College—this is also roughly the first season without older WWII vets participating)
Rip Engle Era = 1950 to 1965
Joe Paterno Era = 1966 to 2011
Post-Paterno Era = 2012 to present
Bill O’Brien Era = 2012 to 2013
James Franklin Era = 2014 to 2025
Beaver Stadium Era = 1960 to present
PSU Big Ten Football Era = 1993 to present
Big Ten Championship Game Era = 2011 to present
Big Ten Divisional Era = 2011 to 2023
CFP Championship Era = 2014 season to present
CFP 12-Team Championship Era = 2024 season to present
PSU Classic Bowl Era = 1923 Rose Bowl Game through 2023 Rose Bowl Game
Rose Bowl Game Classic Big Ten/PAC 12 Era = 1947 Rose Bowl Game through 2023 Rose Bowl Game (includes BCS & CFP games played periodically 1999 to 2023)—Rose Bowl Game debuted Jan. 1, 1902 and has been played continuously since Jan. 1, 1916
Rose Bowl Game CFP Playoff-only Era = 2024 Rose Bowl to present
Penn State University Era = 1954 football season to present
Penn State College Era = 1887 through 1953 football season
Older Football Eras at PSU—
PSU Independent Era = 1887 to 1992 (except 1891 season when member of PIFA)
Old Beaver Field Era = 1893 to 1908
New Beaver Field Era = 1909 to 1959
Hugo Bezdek Era = 1918 to 1929
Bob Higgins Era = 1930 to 1948
WWII Era = 1942 to 1945
Post-WWII Era = 1946 to 1949 (era represented by large presence of older military veterans on roster)
BCS Bowl / Playoff Era = 1998-99 season through 2013-14 season (The BCS Championship Game replaced a designated championship bowl and was played from 2006-07 post-season through 2013-14 post-season)