The Nittany Lions defeated the Jayhawks 13-10 in the National Championship game played on January 22, 1939, at Lawrence. The contest was marked by a tight defensive battle and key scoring plays that ultimately decided the outcome.

The Nittany Lions opened the scoring early in the first quarter when Brandon Sperling ran six yards for a touchdown at 5:24. William Cox added the extra point four seconds later, giving the visitors a 7-0 lead. Near the end of the opening quarter, John Bishop connected with Saul Pitts for a nine-yard touchdown pass, though it was marred by a holding penalty on Anthony Ragland.

In the second quarter, William Cox extended the lead with an 18-yard field goal, making it 10-0. Both teams struggled with ball security as multiple fumbles occurred—Jayhawks' Bill Hinton lost possession recovered by Bryan Bergquist, and Nittany Lions' Peter Bradford and Jose Schroeder each fumbled as well.

The Jayhawks got on the board in the third quarter when Jose Schroeder scored on a two-yard run, trimming the deficit to 10-6 after Ted Fellman’s successful extra point. Later in the game, Fellman converted a 51-yard field goal, tying the game at 10-10 with 14:21 left in the fourth quarter.

Neither team could capitalize on red zone opportunities as both failed to convert any third-down attempts for touchdowns. The Nittany Lions sealed the win without overtime, relying heavily on their passing game led by quarterback John Bishop, who completed 27 of 38 passes for 239 yards. Brandon Sperling contributed to the ground attack, while Vance Emanuel combined for 28 rushing yards and 76 receiving yards for the Lions.

The Jayhawks relied on their ground game, with Bill Hinton rushing for 79 yards and Jose Schroeder contributing on the ground and as a receiver. The Jayhawks' passing attack was less productive, gathering 108 yards and no passing touchdowns.

Defensively, the Jayhawks forced two fumble recoveries and registered one sack, with MLB Matthew Flanders causing a key forced fumble. The Nittany Lions also contributed on defense with a sack, two forced fumbles, and one interception.

The game was marked by five penalties against the Jayhawks for 31 yards and a single penalty for 10 yards on the Nittany Lions.

Head Coach William Woods’ Jayhawks fought valiantly but were unable to overcome the early deficit. The Nittany Lions, coached by Michael Alonso, executed timely plays and field goals to maintain their narrow lead throughout the game.

Final stats show the Jayhawks without any red zone touchdowns despite three visits, and they failed to convert any third-downs. Nittany Lions managed two field goals and a touchdown to secure their championship victory by a three-point margin.