All eyes are on Drew Allar to be the center of Penn State’s push to the College Football Playoff.
Allar is a senior. A leader. A three-year starter. Things are different than they were just a year ago.
Allar is coming off an improved season but failed to shine in big moments against Ohio State and the CFP semifinal loss to Notre Dame, throwing a costly interception that some Penn State fans probably still see in their nightmares.
2025 provides Allar the opportunity to improve under second-year OC Andy Kotelnicki, depend on his 1,000-yard backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and position himself to go high in the 2026 draft.
The pieces are in place with important holdovers, and three transfer wide receivers have been added to improve a room that didn’t catch one pass against the Irish.
Many media members believe in Allar and PSU, including On3 college football analyst Andy Staples.
Earlier this week, Staples ranked Allar as his No. 1 quarterback in the Big Ten.
“Though Allar is a third-year starter with an ideal blend of size, arm and athleticism — who happens to pilot one of the most talented teams in the country — he’s probably going to be a controversial choice at No. 1,” Staples said. “And I get it.”
Staples added that the perception is the 6-foot-5 Allar should have “wowed us by now.” He does point to the Big Ten being weaker at QB than other conferences.
“Would Allar be the No. 1 QB in the Big 12 or the SEC going into this season? Probably not,” Staples noted in his piece. “But in a season of transition for Big Ten QBs, he is the best at the moment.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.It doesn’t sound like the most glowing endorsement for the Heisman hopeful and senior leader on offense.
Allar, 21, threw for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 16 games as a junior, guiding Penn State to a 13-3 record.
“And he has all the tools to be the best at season’s end, too. (And in the 2026 NFL draft.),” Staples said. “It’s up to Allar to live up to the hype, and he should have the supporting cast to do it.”
Penn State added wide receivers Kyron Hudson (USC), Devonte Ross (Troy), and Trebor Peña (Syracuse) to replace Harrison Wallace and Omari Evans, who both entered the transfer portal.
Allar completed 66.5% of his passes and earned a quarterback rating of 152.5, both new career highs.
Allar also rushed for 202 yards and six touchdowns. He’s scored 64 career TDs in 39 games in Happy Valley.
Staples ranked Ohio State freshman five-star Julian Sayin as the No. 7 quarterback before taking the field, and Michigan five-star Bryce Underwood No. 8 overall.
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer follows Allar and Oregon transfer Dante Moore (from UCLA) slots No. 5. New UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee) ranks No. 4. Fernando Mendoza of Indiana also ranks highly on the list.
Staples’ full Top 10 Big Ten quarterbacks:
- Drew Allar – Penn State
- Luke Altmyer – Illinois
- Fernando Mendoza – Indiana
- Nico Iamaleava – UCLA
- Dante Moore – Oregon
- Dylan Raiola – Nebraska
- Julian Sayin – Ohio State
- Bryce Underwood – Michigan
- Demond Williams Jr. – Washington
- Mark Gronowski – Iowa
