Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs , 27 -- 23 , in the Sugar Bowl to win Paterno 's first consensus national championship .
The 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season .
Penn State Nittany Lions   defeated the Georgia Bulldogs , 27 -- 23 , in the Sugar Bowl to win Paterno 's first consensus national championship .
The 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season .