It wasn’t all pretty, but Penn State and quarterback Drew Allar breezed to 5-0 with a 27-11 win over UCLA.
Coming into the matchup, many suggested that Allar and Penn State’s offense could flourish against UCLA’s defense.
However, on Saturday, Penn State’s offense struggled with yet another slow start before putting UCLA away. Here is our report card for quarterback Drew Allar for Penn State’s win over UCLA.
Drew Allar Report Card
Drew Allar returned to 2024 form after a relatively down-to-earth game against Illinois last week.
Allar completed 17 of his 24 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown, and added a touchdown on the ground as well courtesy of the tush push. Allar was sharp in this matchup, completing over 70 percent of his passes. Allar’s average pass rebounded from a season low against Illinois (6.4 yards) to around his season average against the Bruins (9.9 yards). Allar’s QBR also rebounded from a season low against Illinois (80.4) to 91.3 against UCLA.
Drew Allar’s day started slow against the Bruins, completing only one of his two passes on each of his first two drives, and being sacked to end the second drive. However, Allar responded well in the third drive, completing three of four passes for 48 yards and adding three rushes for six yards, including a touchdown run on a third and goal tush-push.
Allar’s best drive of the day took place just before the half, as Allar completed five of six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown to give Penn State a 14-3 lead. Allar’s touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Warren helped Warren break a tie with Pat Freiermuth for first all-time in receiving touchdowns by a tight end in Penn State history.
Allar was two for two on Penn State’s third touchdown drive, completing two chunk passes to Harrison Wallace III and Julian Fleming. On the final scoring drive for Penn State, Allar completed two of four passes for 62 yards, including a deep connection with Liam Clifford for 57 yards.
Drew Allar Grade from Penn State’s Win Over UCLA
Overall, Allar was accurate and in control of the game Saturday for the Nittany Lions. While Allar and the offense did not put-up eye-popping passing numbers, Allar was efficient and effective in moving the ball and scoring for the Nittany Lions. I give Allar a B+ on the day.
There was potential for Allar and the offense to get more through the air against a Bruins passing defense that has been downright bad this season, so I did not give Allar an A grade, but he was plenty good enough for the Nittany Lions not to worry in an easy win to move to 5-0.
Grade: B+
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