Ficken became the starting kicker in 2012. Ficken started the year off poorly, missing 7 of his first 11 field goals (including one from the one yard line in a game against Illinois, as well as missing 4 out of 5 in a one-point loss to Virginia). However, after being mentored by starting Chicago Bears placekicker Robbie Gould, he finished the year by hitting ten straight successful field goals, putting him 14 for 21 on the year. Ficken also completed 39 of 41 extra-point attempts (one was blocked, the other one was a miss). He was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on November 26, 2012, after a 3 for 3 game against the Wisconsin Badgers, one of which was the game-winning kick in overtime.

Ficken made 15 consecutive field goals from October 27, 2012 to September 14, 2013, breaking the Penn State record for consecutive field goals made.

To start the 2014 season, Ficken kicked a last-second, game-winning field goal in the Croke Park Classic. During the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College, Ficken tied the game with a 44-yard field goal and kicked the game-winning point after touchdown in overtime.