1982 college football season

There was never any doubt Penn State would win the final vote over SMU, who had beaten Pitt in the Cotton Bowl 7-3, a game played in an icy rain in Dallas. There was irony in this though. After Paterno had been thrice denied the throne room with a perfect season, he was now ready to claim his first national title at 11-1 over the unbeaten Mustangs.