The Quinnipiac University poll released Friday said 46 percent of those surveyed think the school should rename Beaver Stadium, while 40 percent are opposed.
The university has said it is working on plans to memorialize Paterno, who was a living symbol of Penn State before his death from lung cancer.
Paterno was fired in November, following the arrest of former assistant Jerry Sandusky on child sexual abuse charges.
The stadium currently is named after former Pennsylvania governor James Beaver.
Pollsters surveyed nearly 1,300 registered Pennsylvania voters over six days earlier this month. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
