Through the first seven quarters of Penn State’s season, the offense looked like the same disjointed unit that a year ago spent a lot more time trying to work around its weakness — an inexperienced and ineffective offensive line — than play to its strengths.
Then Saquon Barkley started getting carries in the second half of Saturday’s win against Buffalo.
The freshman running back started the fourth quarter by ripping off a 33-yard gain before hurdling a safety to net 17 more jaw-dropping yards, setting up a short touchdown pass to DaeSean Hamilton that put Penn State up two scores and well on its way to its first victory of 2015.