Penn State’s football program received lofty praise on Tuesday after the school was ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press’ Top-100 football programs of all time.

Criteria for being honored with a spot on the list included: Total appearances on the AP poll, first appearance on the poll, championships, best full decade, and worst full decade. The Lions finished behind Big Ten rivals Ohio State (No. 1), Nebraska (No. 6), and Michigan (No. 7), but finished ahead of powerhouses like Miami (No. 13), Michigan State (No. 19), and Clemson (No. 22) — let’s not forget about Pittsburgh at No. 23! Good try!

Penn State’s best overall decade came in the 1990, where Joe Paterno led the Lions to a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl victory in 1994. The AP said this about the Lions at No. 12:

The Nittany Lions have not been ranked at any point during the last four seasons (2011-15). Since making their poll debut in 1940, Penn State had never gone more than three seasons without being ranked at least once. 

It’s a lofty honor that cements Penn State’s status as one of the greatest football programs in the history of college football — naysayers can see the proof right before their eyes.

Here’s to hoping the Nittany Lions can add on to their collection of Big Ten titles and make room for a new trophy: The College Football Playoff Trophy.