Saquon Barkley returned the opening kickoff 98 yards to the house and No. 4 Penn State topped the Hoosiers 45-14 Saturday in the “Generations of Greatness” game at Beaver Stadium.

However, the offensive line gave up five sacks and paved the way for just 39 rushing yards against a swarming Indiana defense that didn’t let Barkley beat it.

How It Happened

It took Barkley just 14 seconds to open the scoring and become the first Nittany Lion since Chaz Powell (Indiana State, 2011) to return a kickoff for a touchdown. Penn State would score three more touchdowns in the first 15 minutes. It has now outscored its opponents 73-0 in the first quarter this season. Redshirt freshman Will Fries made his second career start, this time at right tackle.

Trace McSorley crossed the goal line from 1 yard out following a Jason Cabinda fumble recovery, then Irvin Charles jarred the ball loose on an Indiana punt return and Nick Scott scooped it up for a 13-yard score. It was the first time since 2001 that Penn State tallied a pair of special teams touchdowns in a game.

DaeSean Hamilton capped off a nine-play, 73-yard drive with 41 seconds left in the first quarter, elevating over Tony Fields for his 11th career touchdown to make it 28-0. Barkley even made an insane one-handed grab. Indiana would find the end zone on its next offensive series, as Richard Lagow hit Ian Thomas for a 54-yard gain before Ricky Brookins rumbled in for a 2-yard score.

McSorley was picked off by Jonathan Crawford before backup quarterback Peyton Ramsey, who checked in for Lagow, tossed an 18-yard strike to Simmie Cobbs to cut the deficit to 28-14 just ahead of the intermission. Amani Oruwariye came down with an interception of his own to open the second half, but Tyler Davis shanked a 21-yard field goal wide right for his fourth miss of the season.

Davis redeemed himself with a 45-yarder to stretch Penn State’s lead to 31-14 with 5:50 left in the third quarter. As Indiana hit midfield, Marcus Allen forced a fumble and Parker Cothren recovered to give the Nittany Lions the ball back. Hamilton’s second touchdown of the afternoon, a 24-yard connection, tied him with Deon Butler for the most receptions in program history.

Hamilton broke Butler’s mark midway through the fourth quarter, shaking hands with Saeed Blacknall and absorbing the applause briefly before getting back to business. Davis missed his second field goal of the day, though, as the 42-yard attempt was blocked to keep it 38-14 with 7:36 to go.

Barkley added another highlight clip to his Heisman campaign late in the fourth quarter, tossing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Hamilton to make it 45-14. Penn State’s defense would take care of business the rest of the way.

Player Of The Game

DaeSean Hamilton | Graduate senior | Wide receiver

The Fredericksburg, Va., native finished with nine catches for 122 yards in the first multi-touchdown game of his career. He now has 181 as a Nittany Lion.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions (5-0) hit the road for a noon ET (11 a.m. local) kickoff against Northwestern at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill., next Saturday.