BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- In years past, a 10-point second-half deficit for Penn State would have been cause for panic. The Nittany Lions ranked 13th in the Big Ten in offense in each of the previous two seasons and fired their offensive coordinator after last season. For one reason or another, Penn State was unable to make it work with a ballyhooed quarterback prospect during the first two years of this regime.

But a funny thing happened this year. With a new playcaller, a new signal-caller and the closest thing they have had to a full roster in the past five years, the Nittany Lions have unleashed an offensive attack unseen since their Rose Bowl team of 2008.

The Granddaddy of Them All may be out of its control right now, but after a 45-31 come-from-behind win Saturday against Indiana, Penn State may as well keep its calendar open at the turn of the new year, because the No. 10 Lions have positioned themselves squarely in the mix for one of the New Year’s Six bowl games.

Saturday’s onslaught wasn’t quite like the late offensive surge at Pitt, where Penn State ultimately fell short, and it wasn’t quite the special-teams magic against Ohio State, which the Lions toppled last month. Indiana was merely a .500 Big Ten opponent that, despite a comical four lost fumbles in the first half, ran a balanced attack and took away the ground game of Penn State, leaving this game in doubt until the very end.

Trace McSorley overcame two interceptions to help rally Penn State down the stretch. Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports

With Rutgers and Michigan State -- and their combined one league win between them, MSU’s victory over Rutgers on Saturday -- remaining on the schedule, the path to a 10-win season and a spot among college football’s elite is clear for Penn State. And, depending on a break or two in the form of a Michigan loss pre-Ohio State, perhaps there is even more to be had for the Lions.

Since star running back Saquon Barkley was bottled up most of the day (33 carries, 60 yards), the onus fell on quarterback Trace McSorley, who kept shining during this surprise campaign. The redshirt sophomore completed 16-of-30 passes for 332 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, that latter number demonstrating his resilience. Under pressure all day, McSorley managed to make plays, giving Penn State belief when it otherwise had little reason to believe. His third-down, 10-yard touchdown scamper set the tone on the game’s first drive.

But the highlight for McSorley came on a fourth-quarter flea-flicker with Barkley that resulted in a 54-yard completion to DaeSean Hamilton. Barkley took it in for a touchdown two plays later to make it 28-24.

After the Hoosiers answered back to regain the lead, McSorley marched the Lions 57 yards on seven plays for another Barkley touchdown. Again, the highlight was a deep pass, this time a 26-yarder to Chris Godwin.

The Lions entered the day second in the Big Ten with 57 chunk plays (20 yards or more), and never were those chunk plays more necessary than at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. They finished with eight plays of 20-plus yards, including three in the roller-coaster fourth quarter.

McSorley went 55-5 at Briar Woods (Virginia) High School, winning three state titles and losing another. He suffered through consecutive six-loss seasons as a reserve collegian, but with the offense in his hands -- and guided by an innovative playcaller in Joe Moorhead -- McSorley has Penn State on the cusp of one of the sport’s marquee stages after a 2-2 start.