The 2012 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represent the Pennsylvania State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team is coached by Bill O'Brien and plays its home games in Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, US. It is a member of the Big Ten Conference and plays in the Leaders Division. Penn State is ineligible to play in a bowl game for the 2012 season. O'Brien was hired as Penn State's 15th head football coach, replacing Hall of Fame coach, Joe Paterno. He was introduced as the head coach at a press conference on January 7, 2012.