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Penn State Football: Is it time for a quarterback change?

By Alec Whitaker

Sep 1, 2022; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) passes the ball in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 1, 2022; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) passes the ball in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to throw a pass during their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to throw a pass during their game against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Cons

The unknown with Allar is good and bad for Penn State football.

The staff knows what they’re getting with Sean Clifford and gameplan accordingly. Clifford also has pretty good numbers against Penn State’s next four opponents. He’s 3-0 against Rutgers, 2-1 against Maryland, Indiana (3-0*) and Michigan State.

If finishing this season strong and ending up 10-2 and making a New Year’s Six Bowl is Penn State’s plan, Clifford may be the better option. A loss to Rutgers, Maryland or Michigan State would not be ideal as Penn State recruits against all of them often.

Rutgers beating Penn State would be a program changer for the Knights while Maryland winning would make it 2-1 against Penn State in the last three years. These are things Franklin would like to avoid.

Now, Penn State should beat these teams regardless of who the quarterback is, it is far more talented than these other four teams.

What if Allar starts the game and struggles?

If Penn State is all of a sudden in 14-0 hole to Maryland should the staff move back to Clifford and try to win the game or let Allar play through his struggles? Again, losing to Maryland would be embarrassing, but pulling Allar at the first sign of struggles could be detrimental to his mental growth and confidence as a quarterback.

It would also be hard for Franklin to explain to the locker room if this situation arises. Are we fully set on the future or trying to win as many games as possible in 2022? It’s a difficult message for a head coach to try to send.

Clifford has his faults, but when healthy, he wins the games he’s supposed to win. These last four games are games he’s supposed to win.

After going 11-11 the last two years, Penn State should not surrender any games this season for the sake of the future. Going 10-2 and then possibly winning the Orange Bowl would say a lot to recruits who are skeptical about the direction of the program on the field.

Allar could be a star right away and win these games, making any of these concerns void. We just don’t know for sure if that will be the case, especially considering Penn State will get each of these struggling four teams’ best punch over the next month.

Clifford is at least a safer bet in these games.

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