PSU's records
2000- 5-7
2001- 5-6
2002- 9-4
2003- 3-9
2004- 4-7
were they really perceived to be stronger than this current UNC team?
again I wasn't referring to the current state of the programs, but the overall national perspectives of the programs as a whole. you're trying to read too far into it, IMO.
Penn State (per wiki):
Perfect seasons
Penn State has had seven undefeated, untied seasons in its history since the program started in 1887:
1887 1912 1968 1969 1973 1986 1994
National championships
Penn State has won two consensus national championships, both under Joe Paterno's tenure as coach:
1982 1986
Other national championships selections:
1911 (National Championship Foundation)
1912 (National Championship Foundation)
1969 (Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments, Massey Ratings)
1981 (Dunkel System, Loren Maxwell, Soren Sorenson, The Fleming System)
1994 (Billingsley Report, DeVold, Foundation for the Analysis of Competitions and Tournaments, Massey Ratings, Matthews Grid Ratings, National Championship Foundation, New York Times, Sagarin Ratings)
Conference championships
Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 1990 and beginning play in 1993, Penn State has won three Big Ten championships:
1994 2005 2008
UNC (per wiki):
Championships
Year Conference Overall record Conference record
1895 SIAA 7-1-1 5-0
1922 Southern 91 51
1946 Southern 821 401
1949 Southern 74 50
1963 ACC 92 51
1971 ACC 93 60
1972 ACC 111 60
1977 ACC 831 501
1980 ACC 111 70
9 conference championships
ZERO National championships
just sayin...