Penn State QB Drew Allar Gets Labeled as Key Factor to Nittany Lions’ Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When the Penn State Nittany Lions take the field for their season opener on August 30 against the Nevada Wolf Pack, all eyes will be on quarterback Drew Allar. Big things are expected out of him as the Nittany Lions are looked at as potential College Football Playoff participants.
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Yet how much does Allar matter to Penn State head coach James Franklin’s plans? Apparently, it is a lot. Media outlets are making their preseason prognostications right now and Allar is listed as an “X” factor, according to ESPN.
Reporter Adam Rittenberg breaks down some things to look out for in Allar’s play.
Pressure is on Drew Allar to perform at a high level this season for Penn State entering his final season before NFL career
“Penn State enters what appears to be an all-in season, and Allar has the ingredients to be the top NFL quarterback prospect for the 2026 draft,” Rittenberg wrote. “But his play under the brightest of lights has left something to be desired.
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“He hasn’t beaten Ohio State or Michigan, he delivered some good moments in a Big Ten championship game loss to Oregon but was still intercepted twice, and threw the crucial interception in a CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame,” Rittenberg wrote.
“Penn State has made the necessary investments around Allar, who will share a backfield with probably the nation’s top running back tandem,” Rittenberg wrote. The time has come for the senior to be at his best in the biggest moments. If he delivers, Penn State will have a real chance at its first national title since 1986.”
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Last season as a junior at Penn State, Allar completed 262 of 394 passes for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Entering his senior year, NFL scouts are going to be watching his every move. Allar probably hopes to lead the Nittany Lions all the way to the top of the college football mountain this season.
But Big Ten Conference play will provide plenty of challenges this season. After the home opener against Nevada and two more non-conference games against Florida International University and Villanova, the Nittany Lions start Big Ten play with the annual “White Out” game.
This season, Penn State welcomes the Oregon Ducks to Beaver Stadium in “Happy Valley,” also known as University Park, Pa. By this time, which will be the fourth week of play for the Nittany Lions this season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see both Penn State and Oregon among the Top 25 teams in the nation.
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That would make this clash even more important even though it comes at the start of Big Ten play.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
