Penn State Wish List: 10 Out-of-Conference Opponents It Should Look To Play

Oregon and Penn State? Chip Kelly versus Joe Paterno? 

Take a look at which ten schools Penn State fans would get pumped up to see the Nittany Lions face off against. See which old school rivalries need to be renewed, and which teams would spark a national interest in its first ever meeting with the Lions.

10. Virginia Tech

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MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 03: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies hands the ball off to Darren Evans #32 against the Stanford Cardinal during the 2011 Discover Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium on January 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Stanford won 40-12. (

Nittany Lion fans have been screaming for this matchup for quite a while.

Frank Beamer and the Hokies have taken on many challenges in their out of conference schedule in recent years, including last year's dramatic loss to Boise State.

A Penn State-Virginia Tech clash would have major recruiting implications as well.

9. Boise State

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HOLLYWOOD - JULY 11: Boise State football coach Chris Peterson accepts the award for 'Best Game' onstage during the 2007 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 11, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

The Lions and Broncos have never faced one another, but that doesn't mean fans of either school wouldn't love to see this matchup occur.

Boise State head coach Chris Peterson is high on Penn State fans' wish list of potential replacements to succeed Joe Paterno.

8. Miami

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CORAL GABLES, FL - DECEMBER 13: Former Temple University football coach Al Golden, 41, speaks to the media after being introduced as the new head coach at the University of Miami on December 13, 2010 in Coral Gables, Florida. Golden is replacing Randy

With the addition of Al Golden as Miami's head coach, the rivalry between these two schools would only grow.

Golden, a former tight end at Penn State and player under Joe Paterno, is considered one of the up and coming coaches in the game.

Having already coached against his former mentor while at Temple, you know Golden would love to get another crack with a more talented roster like the one he adopted in the Hurricanes.

7. Georgia

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ATHENS, GA - NOVEMBER 27: The Georgia Bulldogs celebrate their 42-34 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Sanford Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Penn State and Georgia have met just once previously, but it was a historic matchup.

The Lions defeated the Bulldogs 27-23 for its first ever National Championship. However, since then the two schools have yet to face one another in any of the bowl games that the Big Ten and SEC are tied into.

It would be interesting to play "between the hedges" in Athens, GA.

6. TCU

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Safety Colin Jones #28 of the TCU Horned Frogs breaks up a pass to tight end Jacob Pedersen #48 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Right now TCU remains one of the hottest teams in the country and have many big-name teams turning down offers to play against the Horned Frogs.

It makes more sense for the two to come to an agreement since TCU agreed to join the Big East Conference starting in 2012.

5. Texas

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1 Jan 1997: Running back Curtis Enis of the Penn State Nittany Lions gets tackled during the Fiesta Bowl against the the Texas Longhorns at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Penn State won the game, 38-15. Mandatory Credit: Todd Warshaw /Allsport

The Longhorns last trip to Happy Valley was back in 1990, when they upended Penn State 17-13.

The two teams have met each other five times since Joe Paterno took over the reigns at Penn State, with the Nittany Lions holding a 3-2 overall record.

4. Notre Dame

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 8: Quarterback Jimmy Clausen #7 of Notre Dame is sacked by linebacker Dan Connor #40 of Penn State during the second half of the game between University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Penn State Nittany Lions September 8, 2

There's no love lost between the Irish and Lions.

Fans of both programs love to hate one another and always want a crack at the other team. The two storied programs recently brought the historic rivalry back to the spotlight when they had a two-game series that they split.

This old school rivalry dates back to the first meeting in 1913 (and no Joe Paterno wasn't the coach for Penn State), when Notre Dame held on to a 14-7 decision.

This is a game that should be played on a yearly basis.

3. Oklahoma

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Ryan Broyles #85 of the Oklahoma Sooners of the Oklahoma Sooners runs after a catch as Gary Wilburn #21 of the Connecticut Huskies goes for the tackle during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on Jan

The Sooners and Lions haven't confronted one another since Oklahoma pounded Penn State, 25-10, in the 1985 National Championship game.

A quarter of a century later, the Sooners have placed themselves as one of the most dominating programs in the BCS era. Oklahoma holds the record with the most BCS title game appearances (four), but also holds the honor for most BCS title game loses (three).

A matchup between Bob Stoops and Joe Paterno would be of national interest.

2. Oregon

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2 JAN 1995: PENN STATE RUNNING BACK KI-JANA CARTER CARRIES THE FOOTBALL FOR 83 YARDS AND A TOUCH DOWN ON THE OPENING PLAY OF THE ROSE BOWL GAME AT THE ROSE BOWL IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Mike Powell/ALLSPORT

There couldn't be a more contrasting view on uniforms than that of Oregon and Penn State.

With seemingly never ending combinations of jerseys, helmets and pants, the Ducks have made as much of an impact with their style as they have with their style of play.

Meanwhile, Penn State's uniforms have been touched as infrequently as a side of broccoli on a four-year-old's dinner plate.

Still, Oregon's wide-open style of play would be an interesting matchup for Penn State's defensive coordinator Tom Bradley.

1. Pitt

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19 Sep 1998: Tailback Cordell Mitchell #32 of the Penn State Nittany Lions in action during a game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at the Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Nittany Lions defeated the Panthers 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stew

If there's two in-state schools that deserve to play each other on a yearly basis more than Penn State and Pitt, it would be hard to believe.

Both fan bases have their own opinions as to why this 96-game rivalry hasn't been renewed since the last meeting in 2000, but the only thing both sides can agree on is that it's the other school's fault for the pause in the series.

A Keystone clash would undoubtedly cause a shutdown in the commonwealth should a reunion occur.