Penn State head coach James Franklin raised some eyebrows this offseason when he announced that running back Saquon Barkley was going to be returning kickoffs in certain situations this season. If Franklin was going to insist continuing to use his best offensive player in such situations, then it was only a matter of time before Barkley managed to break one loose for a big return.
It finally happened.
Barkley returned the opening kickoff against Indiana in Beaver Stadium 98 yards for a touchdown, giving Penn State a lightning fast 7-0 lead.
Saquon Barkley has 98 all-purpose yards 14 seconds into today’s game. https://t.co/tYCQAHFkfX
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) September 30, 2017
This was Penn State’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since Chaz Powell returned one against Indiana State in 2011.
It didn’t take long for Penn State to get back on the scoreboard. After an early Indiana fumble, Trace McSorley pushed one across the goal line to build a 14-0 lead just a couple of minutes later.