The 1990 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented the Pennsylvania State University as an independent during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 25th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 9–3. Penn State was invited to the Blockbuster Bowl, where the Nittany Lions lost to Florida State. The team played home games at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania.