Why Drew Allar Could Make or Break Penn State’s National Title Hopes in 2025
Penn State is one of the most interesting teams in college football this season. A lot of that has to do with quarterback Drew Allar. Instead of entering the NFL Draft this past April, Allar decided to return to school for one more year.
There was speculation that Allar could’ve been the second quarterback taken in this past draft, right behind Miami’s Cam Ward, who went No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans.
Drew Allar’s Return Ignites Penn State Football Expectations
If the Nittany Lions are going to want to win the national championship this season, Allar is going to need to have a great season. With only three weeks until Penn State hits the field for the first time this season, ESPN’s Bill Connelly released the top 40 most important players in college football this year. Allar came in as the No. 7 player.
“Two years ago, this category featured the quarterbacks who would go on to win the national title (J.J. McCarthy), win the Heisman (Jayden Daniels) and lead a team to an unbeaten start before a devastating late-season injury (Jordan Travis). Last year it featured the guy who would make a game-changing leap all the way to the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft (Cam Ward). This category is a good place to find guys who will define the season,” Connelly wrote. “It’s also a good place to find Drew Allar. He’s in here for the second straight season. In his first season with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, he took a clear step forward, from 2,631 passing yards to 3,327 and, more importantly, from 27th to 10th in Total QBR. His devastating pick late in PSU’s semifinal loss to Notre Dame has festered all offseason, but he’s clearly very good, and if he improves just a little bit more, his Nittany Lions might be just about bulletproof.”
Penn State has high expectations for this season, and Allar is going to be the key to what happens with the team.
If the 21-year-old quarterback plays like he did last season, the team will fall short of its goal. If Allar takes a big leap this year, then the Nittany Lions could win their first title since 1986.
MORE Penn State Football News from NittanyCentral:
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- Penn State Football Final Bold Predictions for 2025 Season - August 27, 2025
- Penn State’s X-Factors Who Could Power National Championship Drive - August 27, 2025
- Penn State Opens Season at No. 2 | What AP Poll Tells Us About 2025 Season - August 13, 2025
