If you’re a sports brain, it’s impossible to keep from making comparisons between Penn State Athletics team and your favorite or least favorite professional sports teams.

There’s no better place to be an sports fan than Happy Valley, so a few of our staffers considered which Penn State varsity athletics teams are most similar to professional organizations based on historic and current success, ownerships situations, or perhaps lacks of prosperity.

Charlie Pegler: Penn State Field Hockey Is The Pittsburgh Steelers

This may feel a little bit like a stretch, but when you look at the past decade for both the Steelers and Penn State field hockey, the teams might mirror one another more than you think. Both the Steelers and Penn State field hockey have been so close to hoisting the trophy at the end of the year. Unfortunately, neither has gotten the job done, but it feels like they’re both always in the conversation at the end of the season.

A strong comparison I can see is two coaches who have built continued success over many years. While Char Morrett-Curtiss retired as head coach, what she and Mike Tomlin have done over their tenure as head coaches is quite similar. Both rarely miss the playoffs or NCAA Tournament and brought a culture of winning with them to their respective programs.

Michael Siroty: Penn State Wrestling Is The 1991-98 Chicago Bulls

Cael Sanderson has turned Penn State wrestling into a dynasty as it has only lost two dual meets in the last eight seasons. This run is similar to what the Chicago Bulls did from 1991 to 1998, winning six championships in seven years. Carter Starocci, Beau Bartlett, Levi Haines, Aaron Brooks, and Greg Kerkvliet are all ranked No. 1 in their respective weight classes, similar to former Bulls stars Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman.

Fernando Martinez Ruiz De E: Penn State Football Is The Dallas Cowboys

It hurts me to say it, but Penn State football reminds me a lot of the Dallas Cowboys.

Every year, both teams come into the season with high expectations due to all of the talent they have on the field, but they always fail to live up to the expectations. For example, both teams always lose the big games, whether it’s games in the playoffs or season-defining games. Also, both teams have head coaches who make questionable decisions during games and are under pressure all the times when they don’t deliver.

Both teams have a lot of popularity around the country and passionate fans who have suffered for so long just to watch them choke. Hopefully, this narrative changes soon, but as of right now, this is the perfect comparison for a Penn State team to a pro team.

Nolan Wick: Penn State Men’s Basketball Is The Milwaukee Brewers

There are lots of similarities between both teams. Both just lost their respective bosses in Micah Shrewsberry and Craig Counsell and are experiencing the aftershocks. The Nittany Lions had an exodus of talent when Shrewsberry left and are picking up the pieces, while the Brew Crew recently traded Corbin Burnes and appear to be entering a rebuild.

Additionally, both teams have a serious lack of historical success. The Nittany Lions have only been to one Final Four in program history, while the Brewers’ only World Series appearance was a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982. Both long-suffering fanbases deserve more to say the least.