Following their impressive 13-3 record in the previous season, Penn State’s 2025 approach is the focus of attention. The excitement around their upcoming campaign is growing, and predictions are heating up. Much of the focus is on Drew Allar, who is under the microscope after being the reason behind the team’s heartbreaking collapse last year.
Allar’s late-game interception against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl still stings for Penn State fans. The pain hasn’t faded. But with Allar returning to the program, hope is rising again, because he remains in the national spotlight.
This season, Allar will have no more excuses. It’s up to him to either lead his team to win and become a Heisman Trophy candidate or be the villain of Penn State.
Can Drew Allar Win the Heisman Trophy and Go No. 1 in the NFL Draft?
Penn State entered the 2024 season with high expectations. They kicked off with a flawless 10-0 record, riding a dominant defense and a quarterback who looked NFL-ready. Everything was lining up for a dream run. But it all came crashing down in the Orange Bowl. In a heartbreaking finish, the Nittany Lions fell 27-24 to Notre Dame, ending their national title hopes and finishing the season at 13-3.
The blame fell hard on quarterback Allar. With less than a minute left in the game, Allar threw a crushing interception that sealed Penn State’s fate with a defeat. That moment turned the 21-year-old into the face of the team’s collapse.
Yet despite the painful ending, Allar remains in the national spotlight, and he’s returning to lead the Nittany Lions in 2025. That return comes with serious pressure. Former Penn State tight end turned analyst Adam Breneman believes Allar’s future depends entirely on what happens this season.
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“If Penn State dominates in 2025,” Breneman wrote on Instagram, “Drew Allar won’t just be a Heisman finalist—he could be the No. 1 overall pick.
New weapons at the receiver. A top-tier backfield. And Andy Kotelnicki is scheming it all up. The excuses are gone. The talent… is undeniable. Now it’s time for Allar to prove he’s that guy.”
KEEP READING: Drew Allar’s Impressive Growth Under OC Andy Kotelnicki Gets Major Praise from Analyst Greg McElroy
Currently, Allar sits at +1400 in Heisman Trophy odds, according to BetMGM. Though he trails names like Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik, we can’t count him out. He threw for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions last season. He looks like an NFL quarterback at 6’5″ and 238 pounds, with a cannon for an arm.
Additionally, James Franklin has fully reloaded the program for this championship run. So, our fingers are crossed because anything is possible.
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