Penn State had made changes at kicker before Ryan Barker became part of the equation.
As recently as last season, the man who started the years as PSU’s No. 1 placekicker lost that statues before the halfway point.
But it’s seldom that this type of change would be something that saves the season.
To say that Ryan Barker single handily won Saturday’s 33-30 thriller at USC would be a dramatic. Drew Allar’s clutch game-tying drive, Julian Fleming’s big time receptions and, oh, Tyler Warren having the best game any Penn State tight end has had in the middle of what is on pace to go down as the best season any Penn State tight end has ever had all played a big hand in the triumph over the Men of Troy in their house.
But all of that would have been for naught if Barker didn’t do his job.
Granted Barker’s kicks of 33 and 20 yards in regulation were ones that should have been made. But regardless of distance, Penn State needed those six points to force the game to overtime.
In overtime, one kicker did his job and one didn’t.
USC’s Michael Lantz made field goals of 39, 45 and 47 yards in regulation.
But the one that people will— rightly or wrongly— remember is the 45-yarder he missed in overtime.
USC MISSES THE FIELD GOAL IN OT 😱😱 pic.twitter.com/fswuWYxC2Q
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 12, 2024
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.One possession later, Barker had his shot to win the game with a 38 yarder.
The walk-on from Landenberg, PA didn’t miss.
🦁FIELD GOAL IS GOOD🦁@RyanBarker111 nails the 36yd field goal for #PennState to win the game 33-30 in overtime!!
👉 https://t.co/ssGVmKU3SD pic.twitter.com/MlD8U60SPn
— Penn State Nittany Lions | Happy Valley Insider (@PennStateRivals) October 12, 2024
His head coach was, understandably, pumped up.
“Ryan Barker walks on at Penn State, an opportunity knocks, and he’s ready,” James Franklin said in his postgame presser. “To me, that’s what our country is about. That’s what college football teaches. He earned a start job, then lost the starting job, then comes here. He’s 4 for 4 on the road, game-winning field goal there in overtime. Ryan ‘Cold as Ice’ Barker is what I’m calling him. I’m just really proud of him.”
Allar, whose career-best 391 yards would have felt hollow, to say the least, in a loss, was appreciative as well.
“I was super happy for Barker,” Allar said. “We made a lot of game-like situations throughout practice. Coach Franklin does a great job of being just excessive with it. Those specialists get into those situations, they’re unfazed. They tried to ice him. It’s just a credit to his confidence and his demeanor. He’s the same person every day. I’m super happy for him that he was able to enjoy that moment and deliver us the win.”
Left tackle Drew Shelton described the situation on the sideline as Barker lined up for his moment.
“Arms around each other, everyone was kneeling down right there, right where he was,” Shelton said. “We all knew he was going to make it. Had the faith, had the confidence in him. Every day in practice, at the end of practice, we do game-winning field goals. So, having the team around, doing the noise, we practice that every single day — a lot closer than everyone in the stands. We’re right around him. Having that experience is pretty cool.”
