Similar to the two seasons prior, Penn State entered the 1999 football season with hype, talent, and confidence. The Nittany Lions graced the cover of Athlon Sports’ Big Ten preview, and were ranked second to start the year. After a season-opening thrashing of Arizona in the Pigskin Classic, many people thought Penn State should be ranked ahead of Virginia Tech, Florida State, and Tennessee.
After soundly defeating Akron, and getting a blocked field goal to hold off Pitt, the Nittany Lions traveled to Coral Gables, and a Kevin Thompson to Chafie Fields bomb with around two minutes remaining lifted the road team over Miami 27-23 to enter the Big Ten at 4-0.