There's a ton of pressure on Penn State football for the 2025 season, but for good reason. The Nittany Lions have the best running back duo in the country, a whole new look to their wide receiver room, a three-year starter under center, one of the best offensive lines,
As Adam Rittenberg of ESPN says, Penn State's "all-in" this season. There's one thing, though, that needs to make this stacked roster count. Drew Allar's big-game performances, according to ESPN, is the Nittany Lions' X factor in 2025.
ESPN's Adam Rittenberg says Drew Allar is Penn State football's X factor for 2025
Allar is projected be be a first-rounder in the 2026 NFL Draft and has potential to be the top quarterback prospect at that. He has the arm, size, and athleticism, but there's a layer to his game that hasn't been unlocked.
The rising senior has his last shot in the NCAA this coming season to prove he can step up in those big moments in big games.
Allar threw two interceptions in the Big Ten Championship Game against Oregon, one of which was converted into an Oregon touchdown and the other that ended the game and handed the Ducks the conference title.
In the College Football Playoffs semifinals against Notre Dame, Allar threw an interception under a minute left of the fourth in a tied ball game. We all know how that ended, and Allar and head coach James Franklin faced the heat for it, naturally. It was his eighth of the whole season and first of the CFP, but it takes just one mishap to end a season entirely. Penn State witnessed that firsthand and the Orange Bowl capped off its year.
It's not just the postseason where Allar's performance leaves everyone with wanting more. The Nittany Lions struggle against top ranked teams in the regular season just as much as big postseason contests. Fingers can be pointed at "Big Game James" all fans want, and while he does need to get over that hump as a head coach, eight interceptions is unacceptable for Allar.
Luckily for the quarterback, Penn State made the necessary adjustments to the wide receiver room to help him. Transfers Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross, and Kyron Hudson should fix the wideout issues the Nittany Lions struggled with in 2024.
Allar will have more opportunities to take advantage of the passing game while still having the best rushing duo in the backfield, meaning his big-game performances and decision-making will be at the forefront to decide whether Penn State excels or falls short in 2025. He's in the spotlight, and it's now or never for Allar to prove he can handle it.
"The time has come for the senior to be at his best in the biggest moments," Rittenberg wrote. "If he delivers, Penn State will have a real chance at its first national title since 1986."