A new era of Penn State Football will begin under Bill O’Brien this fall, but before it does, we decided to take a look back at some of the memorable moments over the final decade of the Joe Paterno era.

Onward State has set up a bracket of the top 16 moments of the past ten years. You’ve voted, and now we have our Final Four.

Vote for your favorite now, and check for the announcement of the winner next week!

Elite Eight Results

409 63%

The Fumble Part II 37%

First BCS Win 55%

Drive vs. Northwestern 45%

400 64%

Blue-Out 36%

The Fumble 75%

Beaver Stadium Record Attendance 25%

Finalists

409 (Illinois, 2011)

The Lions scored on a Silas Redd touchdown with less than two minutes remaining, and Illinois kicker Derek Dimke (with a little help from the Penn State student section) missed the game-tying kick off the upright, giving Coach Paterno his Division 1A-record 409th win. This would be Paterno’s last game as head coach.

First BCS Win (Florida State, Orange Bowl, 2005)

In a matchup of the two winningest coaches in College Football history, JoePa’s Nittany Lions beat Bobby Bowden’s Seminoles 26-23 in 3OT. Kevin Kelly’s game-winning kick gave Penn State its first ever BCS Bowl victory.

400 (Northwestern, 2010)

Trailing 21-0 late in the second quarter, the Lions scored 35 unanswered points, highlighted by four Matt McGloin touchdown passes, to give Coach Joe Paterno his 400th win. This also matched the largest comeback under Paterno.

The Fumble (Ohio State, 2005)

In front of the first ever White Out crowd, Penn State beat the #6 Buckeyes 17-10. A Tamba Hali strip sack of Troy Smith with less than two minutes left in the game closed the deal, and put Penn State Football back on the map.