Saturday’s College Football Playoff game in Beaver Stadium, regardless of the outcome, won’t be Drew Allar’s last with Penn State football.
The high-profile starting quarterback intends to play his senior season with the Nittany Lions in 2025. Allar talked about his decision in a previously scheduled press conference to preview the playoff match-up with SMU.
Allar, who has shown marked improvement this fall, is 21-5 as a two-year starter. The five-star prospect from Medina, Ohio should loom as one of faces of college football next season,
Allar’s decision comes just a day after No. 2 Penn State quarterback, Central York’s Beau Pribula, announced that he is entering the NCAA transfer portal. Pribula would have been looking at a possible third straight season as Allar’s backup in 2025.
“For me personally, it was a football decision. That’s always how I’ve been operating. Me and my family had extensive talks about it, weighed everything.
“I came to the conclusion that I felt like it was best for my future. Honestly, I’m glad I got this out of the way because I’m totally focused on SMU. Respectfully, this is the last time I want to talk about it. But it was a personal and football decision that I felt was in my best interest.”
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Allar played well in 10 games as a true freshman in 2023, backing up Sean Clifford. He broke through last season as a starter, particularly with his big-arm possibilities and prudent decision-making. He threw for 25 touchdowns, 2,631 yards and just two interceptions.
He set a collegiate record for most passing attempts to start a career without an INT (311), though he was not able to develop a consistent downfield passing attack under former coordinator Mike Yurcich.
While Allar has made more turnover mistakes this season (seven interceptions), he’s been a more consistent, accurate and productive quarterback (21 TDs, 2,894 yards) overall, particularly with his mobility and running.
Allar ranks ninth nationally in passing efficiency and in average yards per passing attempt (8.9). Last year, Allar ranked 77th in yards per attempt (6.8).
There wasn’t a party left out of (my decision to return next year),” Allar said. “Again, my sole focus these last weeks have been to focus on our upcoming opponents. This week, it’s SMU. But with the schedule of NCAA football, it’s kind of insane decision-making with everything, where we’re at in the season.
“I look forward to the opportunity we have ahead of us, playing in Beaver again on Saturday.”
Allar figured to be one of the top 10 quarterbacks chosen in April’s NFL Draft, according to mock drafts and reports, if he decided to leave early.
But Allar also still possesses large doses of untapped potential in college, according to coach James Franklin. Meanwhile, Penn State is actively pursuing wide receiver targets in the transfer portal to fill a position of need, and assist in Allar’s possible return.
