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To get a sense of just how tense Penn State’s last-second victory was on Saturday night, consider that it was even killing members of the 2016 team, who know a little something about comeback victories themselves.
“I hereby apologize for (the) 2016 season,” departed linebacker Brandon Bell wrote on Twitter after the Nittany Lions’ improbably 21-19 escape from Iowa. “I had no idea how this felt from the fan perspective.”
Insert your screaming emojis here.
The only thing capable of stealing the spotlight from a record-breaking performance by Saquon Barkley (358 all-purpose yards) was Trace McSorley connecting with Juwan Johnson on fourth-and-goal from the Iowa 7 with no time left on the clock and a shrieking horde of Hawkeyes fans hoping to will yet another bit of upset magic at Kinnick Stadium.
And the game certainly had the feel of the last time the Lions came to Iowa City as a top-five team, when the Hawkeyes ruined Penn State’s national title hopes in 2008 with a field goal on the final snap.
This, amazingly, was actually tougher.
Iowa’s own dynamic running back, the criminally underrated Akrum Wadley, ripped through a huge hole from 35 yards out to score the go-ahead touchdown with just 1:42 left on the clock.
Penn State proceeded to march 73 yards in 11 plays down to the Iowa 7, a drive that included a fourth-and-2 catch over the middle by Saeed Blacknall to keep the game alive.
And then…
What the video doesn’t show is that McSorley actually went up to the line to call out a change before the snap, despite the stadium hitting peak decibel level. That could be the reason why Johnson came so close to teammate DaeSean Hamilton, who was expecting the pass to come to him.
Instead of a disheartening loss that would have forced the Lions to win nine straight — again — to have a shot at the College Football Playoff, they got credit for winning in a crazy environment while also vaulting Barkley to the top of many Heisman lists.
Don’t even have words…. just keep believing #W sorry for the high blood pressure��— Jason Cabinda (@jasoncabinda) September 24, 2017
QUARTERBACK: B
Bump it a full letter grade for that last drive alone. For most of the night, Iowa’s defense made McSorley look out of rhythm and anxious with its pressure. But the game was on his arm as time ran down and simply giving it to Barkley wouldn’t be enough. He figured in on all 80 yards of the winning march, going 7 for 10 for 68 yards and adding 12 more on the ground while converting two fourth downs, including the game-winner.
RUNNING BACK: S
Call it S for Saquon or S for Superman — your current Heisman frontrunner deserves his own letter grade after this one. A career-high 211 yards on the ground — 119 of which came in the third quarter after the offense’s disappointing first half. He added 94 more yards on a whopping 12 catches and with a few kick returns thrown in for good measure, broke Penn State’s single-game all-purpose yardage record held by the vaunted Curt Warner.
Oh, and he did this, too.
Aside from wowing fans, players and pundits, he impressed some of the best athletes in the country, including a certain former Ohio State star…
Man is unreal @saquonb21— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) September 24, 2017
…and an MVP from an entirely different sport.
Barkley is the real deal ! #PennState— Mike Trout (@MikeTrout) September 24, 2017
“I cannot imagine that there’s a better player in all of college football,” Lions coach James Franklin told reporters in Iowa City afterward. “I’ve been doing this for 23 years. The guy is special. Every time he touched the ball … it was special.”
RECEIVERS: B
Once again, the grade is higher than it would have been if not for that final drive. Thus far, Penn State’s wideouts post-Chris Godwin haven’t consistently been able to shake loose for the big plays that defined last season’s surge. Teams have been able to take away the deep ball to an extent, and there hasn’t been enough separation underneath. But Johnson had his coming-out party, and his first career touchdown was his seventh catch of the night — one that will be replayed at Penn State for years and years to come.
OFFENSIVE LINE: C
The Lions suddenly have an issue at right tackle. Chasz Wright did not play because of an apparent injury, and before the first half was over, the coaches had enough concern with Andrew Nelson that he was replaced with redshirt freshman Will Fries. Both Nelson — still not 100 percent recovered from his knee injury from last fall — and Fries — a redshirt freshman who made his first career start last week — struggled against Iowa’s speed off the edge. Most costly came just before halftime when Nelson’s man hit McSorley from behind as he threw, forcing an interception that set up an Iowa touchdown. Something to watch going forward.
DEFENSIVE LINE: B
Strong for nearly the entire night, the Lions’ front got gashed in the final minutes when Wadley tore through a huge hole for a 35-yard touchdown. Ironically, this may have worked in Penn State’s favor — Iowa left just enough time left on the clock instead of bleeding it dry and kicking a field goal to win it. Beyond that, the unit looked inspired with the late news that starting end Torrence Brown would be out for the season with a serious knee injury. That included fellow starter Shareef Miller, who donned Brown’s No. 19 and made a big impact, including a second-quarter safety.
LINEBACKERS: B
After a fairly bland start to the season despite a pair of shutouts, the linebackers did an excellent job against Wadley and Iowa’s rushing game — until the very end. Wadley had managed just 45 yards on 18 carries before the would-be game-winning score. Jason Cabinda led the team in tackles and Manny Bowen flashed his athleticism by stretching out to the sideline to nab Wadley on one play. But more will be needed from this group if the Lions want to repeat as Big Ten champions, as the current linebackers haven’t shown that same big-play spark that Brandon Bell provided.
SECONDARY: B
Two notable mistakes by safeties marred an otherwise solid night. Troy Apke was lined up in the slot against Nick Easley after Iowa’s interception just before halftime and the senior was beaten and turned around as the Hawkeyes ran a great route that didn’t allow deep man Marcus Allen to get over in time to help. The other gaffe came on Wadley’s 70-yard catch-and-run that saw Nick Scott badly whiff on a tackle in the open field, taking out Cabinda in the process, allowing Wadley to dash for the score. Apke did make a nice play to thwart a two-point conversion and Grant Haley nearly had another interception. The Lions again played without the injured Amani Oruwariye.
SPECIAL TEAMS: B
Like a lot of these, this is a very tough one to grade. On one hand, the field goal unit would have been the goat in a loss as Tyler Davis missed one kick and hand another blocked to set up Iowa’s late go-ahead score. On the other, Apke also delivered a key field goal block and punter Blake Gillikin had an excellent night, pinning the Hawkeyes deep three times — one of which led to two points on a safety. All considered, a net positive.