Drew Allar and Penn State football head coach James Franklin have a season ahead of them with the same disbelief from the public: they can't win the big one.
After a poor performance against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals capped off with a late fourth quarter interception, Allar faced a lot of flack in the offseason. Aside from the physical elements of his game and the Nittany Lions giving him the supporting cast he needs to succeed in 2025, there's also that mental aspect Allar needed to strengthen.
"Arguably no national championship contender has greater urgency than Penn State, and no quarterback carries a heavier burden than Allar," ESPN's Adam Rittenberg wrote. ". . . He's still searching for his first win against Ohio State, Michigan or Oregon, and his struggles against Notre Dame in a CFP semifinal loss left him teary-eyed and determined to rewrite his story."
Allar can't do it all by himself, and Franklin knew that. Adding Devonte Ross, Trebor Pena, and Kyron Hudson from the Transfer Portal at wide receiver was a huge boost for Penn State's offense. No wideout caught a single pass in the CFP semifinals game, which is unacceptable for a team vying for a national championship — and that's exactly what the Nittany Lions intend on doing this season.
He also has one of the best offensive lines protecting him in front and a star studded backfield in running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Though Tyler Warren waved goodbye to the NCAA and has his rookie NFL season awaiting him, Allar still has a solid group of tight ends. Warren's absence won't be so stark between the wide receiver core and Khalil Dinkins, Luke Reynolds, and Andrew Rappleyea at tight end.
Taking control of the offense will be easier for Allar this season as well. Franklin said that his offseason improvements didn't just regard the game, but also his leadership. He has a better sense of the offense and made one percent improvements day-by-day.
"I didn't know him as a person, but he's got a great work ethic and wants to learn," defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said of Allar to ESPN. "It's like when I first got to Ohio State and CJ Stroud was asking me all kinds of questions. You don't know any of this when you play them, but he's got those leadership skills and traits, and the team really follows him."