Victory Bell Rings
Fansided

Penn State vs. Minnesota Position Grades

By Shane Lunnen

Oct 1, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tackle Andrew Nelson (59) rings the victory bell following the conclusion of the overtime game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Minnesota 29-26 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Oct 1, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions tackle Andrew Nelson (59) rings the victory bell following the conclusion of the overtime game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Minnesota 29-26 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O /
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Oct 1, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) leaps into the air after scoring a touchdown in overtime against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Minnesota 29-26 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren- USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; University Park, PA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Saquon Barkley (26) leaps into the air after scoring a touchdown in overtime against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Minnesota 29-26 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren- USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota bottled up the Lion run game for pretty much all four quarters.  But it would only take one play to change everything.

Saquon Barkley had trouble all afternoon getting much of anything going.  He was contained and many times went backwards.  He does have the tendency to always want to break the big run and that led to negative yards on some plays.

Barkley ended his day with 20 carries for 63 yards and a 3.2 yards per carry average.  It was a very pedestrian day for the superstar back.

Throw all of that out though because it was his run on Penn State’s first play in overtime that won the game.  A simple inside run that had been bottled up all day, but this time Barkley made a couple guys miss and he was off to endzone.

No other Nittany Lion outside of McSorley got any carries.  However both Andre Robinson and Mark Allen were rotated in for pass blocking and they need to work on that aspect of their games.  Barkley’s touchdown keeps this grade from being lower.

Grade: C+

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