Penn State’s real test comes vs. Oregon in 2 weeks. Is QB Drew Allar up for the task?
Drew Allar made his usual path off the field following Penn State’s 52-6 win over Villanova. The Penn State quarterback smiled as he rang the victory bell before heading beneath the south tunnel, where fans lined the edges of the walkway.
There were plenty of cheers as he passed by. But this time, there was a smattering of boos. He did not stay long to hear them before a blank expression took over his face and he disappeared into the locker room.
Allar, the former five-star quarterback hailed as the signal caller who would lead the program back to the national title, has struggled for two games in a row, leaving booing fans and those on the outside wondering if the No. 2 team in the country still has the ceiling fans were hoping for.
He’s seen ups and downs in his career, but there haven’t been many situations like the one he is in now — where he has a highly-touted offensive coordinator, a strong offensive line and the wide receivers he needs to succeed. But last week against FIU and this week against Villanova, he’s just been off.
Penn State head coach James Franklin said part of the issue with how things have gone for the offense is about the rhythm the unit has failed to get into and its struggles on key downs. Those are not just about Allar, in his eyes, but rather everyone involved.
“We got to help him get into a rhythm and I think the third down is a big part of that,” Franklin said. “We gotta be better on third downs as coaches, Drew’s gotta be better, and all the guys on the field gotta be a little bit better.”
And while Allar attributed his play last week to thinking too much on the field, he didn’t feel the same way about Saturday.
“No, I felt pretty good overall,” Allar said when asked if he was overthinking. “Gotta watch the film to really recap good and bad and that sort of thing. But overall I felt better about my performance.”
Despite Allar’s insistence about his mentality, his performance was defined by the same issues he dealt with the week prior. He was missing easy throws, attempting difficult throws when he had other options wide open and throwing an interception on a ball that never should have left his hand.
Whatever the actual issues, Allar’s teammates said confidence in their quarterback hasn’t wavered. Offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh said he knows Allar can make something special happen whenever he blocks for him, and teammates reiterated that they’ve seen what he’s capable of in practice.
Wide receiver Trebor Peña, who joined Penn State this offseason from Syracuse, put it bluntly.
“That’s my quarterback,” Peña said. “I’m gonna ride for him, like I know he’ll ride for everybody else. That’s somebody I want to play for. Whatever he needs me to do, I’m gonna do it. That’s really it. He’s my guy.”
The games only get more stressful from here. The Nittany Lions had an easy nonconference slate, with those matchups against FIU and Villanova coming after a blowout against Nevada. But next up, after a bye week, is the team’s biggest home game of the season — the White Out against Oregon.
That is the matchup that will define more than the season. For Allar and Franklin, it could be a big part of what defines their legacies at Penn State. Both have dealt with outside criticism for their performance in the biggest games and moments.
This time, the deck is stacked, at least a little bit, in their favor. The Ducks have to travel across the country to take on an elite team in one of the most hostile environments in college football. And they have to do it in a game where the talent advantage isn’t clear.
When that time comes, Allar will help define what Penn State football is in 2025. He will be at the helm of an offense that must outscore a group that put up 69 points against Oklahoma State this season.
And then it will become clear if he and this group are capable of winning a national championship.
