A lot went wrong for Penn State in 2025 — the preseason No. 2 team endured a six-game losing streak, head coach firing and various significant injuries to key players, drawing outside criticism for underperforming, then for parting ways with James Franklin, then for a lengthy and arduous hiring process.
Lost in the shuffle was a historic season for kicker Ryan Barker, who was a beacon of stability for a reeling team. Barker once again delivered on Saturday with three field goals (two from 40-plus) and one extra point in a 22-10 win over Clemson.
The temperature at kickoff of the Pinstripe Bowl sat in the mid-teens when accounting for wind chill, and mounds of snow towered behind each end zone and sideline after being cleared off the field pre-game. It didn’t matter for Barker, who was automatic as always.
“It kind of took me back to SMU last year a little bit,” Barker said after the game. “Kind of have to change up the swing a little bit. With the ground being really hard, it makes it a bit more difficult to get that plant foot into the ground. So throughout warmups, we were just going through that and figuring out what was the best way to go about it.”
Since taking over midway through the 2024 season for the struggling Sander Sahaydak, Barker has converted on 33 of 37 field goal attempts (89.2%), on pace to break the program record by almost 10%.
In addition to chasing the career record, Barker set the single-season program record this year, converting 18 of 19 field goal attempts (94.7%). The number tops Jake Pinegar and Tyler Davis’ records of 91.7% in 2019 and 2016, respectively.
“It meant a lot to me and the team, and I felt very proud of myself to be able to do that for the team and the seniors and send them off on the right foot,” Barker said.
His lone miss this season was an inconsequential blocked kick against Florida International from 53 yards out. He still finished that contest with a pair of makes and a 4-for-4 mark on extra points.
“I would say that I’ve made an exceptional step forward, not only mentally, but just on the field, obviously, with the statistics,” Barker said. “Yeah, I’m just really proud of myself for what I’ve been able to accomplish. I’ve always believed in myself, but I never thought I’d succeed as well as I did this year.”
With a revamped coaching staff and heavy roster turnover this offseason, Barker is one player Penn State would be wise to retain. His field-goal percentage was tied for the best nationally with New Mexico’s Luke Drzewiecki, which would make him a prized target in the transfer market.
However, Barker said he’d “love to be here” next season, while admitting “nothing’s official” yet. His initial meeting with head coach Matt Campbell was a good starting point, though.
“I’ve had one really good conversation with him so far, and he thinks the world of me, and I think he’s a great coach, and I think he’s going to lead us to success,” Barker said.
