Penn State Beats Iowa on Final Play Behind Saquon Barkley’s Huge Performance

Barkley picked up a blitz, Trace McSorley roped a seven-yard touchdown pass through two defenders and the Nittany Lions pressed on in the Big Ten East with a 4-0 record that left Iowa fans in silent shock.

If not for the defense, especially through the third quarter, the outcome would have been different for the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions, now 4-0 this season and 13-1 since getting blown out 49-10 at MI on September 24, 2016.

Iowa running back Akrum Wadley is healthy and ready to go against the Nittany Lions.

Half empty: It’s nearly inconceivable given those numbers above that PSU scored only 21 points, and was stuck on 15 until the last play of the game.

For all the gaudy raw numbers, McSorley threw for less than six yards per attempt, and how many of those were due to without Barkley’s yards-after-catch genius? And to top it all off, he leads the Big Ten in receiving yards – showing how much of a threat he is in the passing game.

The last time Penn State won on the final play of regulation came just three years ago when Sam Ficken kicked a 36-yard field goal to beat Central Florida 26-24 at Dublin, Ireland. But he was 7 for 11 and accounted for every yard on the Nittany Lions’ 80-yard touchdown drive to win the game.

The decision to pitch the ball back to Akrum Wadley on a second-and-eight play from the Iowa 3-yard line was freakish at best. Besides that, however, it’s been all Nittany Lions. Saquon Barkley had 358 all goal yards in the win, which is a new school record. In the second set alone, Holman and Albrecht combined for 12 kills and teamed up for two blocks.

Best hit: Late in the first half, McSorley was hit by Iowa defensive end Sam Brincks, leading to an interception that Jewell returned 33 yards to the PSU 21.

Toward the end of the third period, he was sacked by A.J. Epenesa and fumbled on the Iowa 45.

Kentucky’s last chance to win ended when Austin MacGinnis’ 57-yard field goal fell short as time expired.

Thirteen of the Huskers’ shots came in the first half but they just couldn’t find the back of the net.

If this game was during the day, I may be more inclined to take Penn State and the points, but night games add another dimension.

Even though the Iowa offense was thoroughly outplayed in the first 30 minutes, the Hawkeyes hung around and took a 7-5 lead into halftime.

More than a smattering of boos could be heard at Kinnick Stadium as the swarming Nittany Lions defense was in total command.

In their only Big Ten game to date, IN played Ohio State IN its 2017 season opener and lost 49-21.

Penn State’s Saquan Barkley looked the part of a Heisman Trophy candidate as he rushed for 211 yards and caught 12 passes for another 94 yards against a pretty good defense.

Picked among the Big Ten West favorites, Nebraska instead is 1-2 with losses to OR and Northern Illinois and a narrow win over Arkansas State.

Penn State had to convert a fourth down and two from their 40-yard line.

Penn State has been one of Nebraska’s toughest opponents since the move to the Big Ten, so Sunday is a big test for the Huskers.

Iowa is certainly a very good football team.

In terms of giving up points, Penn State’s defense has gone from literally worst to nearly first.