Penn State head coach James Franklin’s recent comments about quarterback Drew Allar are in light of the team’s loss in the Orange Bowl to Notre Dame in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Drew Allar Acknowledges the Mistake, and James Franklin Offers Support
In the Orange Bowl, Allar threw a contested pass that cornerback Christian Gray intercepted in the final minute of the game, allowing the Irish to win 27-24.
Allar struggled in that game. Before the interception, he completed just 52% of his passes for 135 yards while having two interceptions waved off.
Notre Dame went to the National Championship game with the win but lost to Ohio State. Over the course of the season, Allar threw for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Despite the ups and downs, Franklin offered plenty of support for the returning 20-year-old quarterback.
“I think this experience this year will be helpful, very similar to what you’ve seen with other programs,” Franklin said in a recent press conference with the media. “We understand what it’s like. You have a plan, you have a routine, you kind of go back and do an after-action review about how things went as a program.
“The players do that as well, and then you attack it. But the most important thing is that we use every experience we have, both positive and negative, to get better and grow. That’s what I see all of our guys doing, including Drew,” Franklin added.
Allar’s Plans for Growth in 2025
Despite several NFL teams being interested in Allar to aid their quarterback needs, the New York Post’s Matt Ehalt noted that the loss didn’t “help his draft stock.”
The loss showed that with the game on the line, Allar couldn’t get it done.
After the loss, Allar decided to put his move to the draft on hold. Working with Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki for another season should benefit him.
KEEP READING: Drew Allar NIL — How Much Are Penn State’s QB NIL Deals Worth?
Pro Football Focus has Allar ranked as the fourth best returning quarterback in 2025.
Despite losing tight end Tyler Warren, Penn State will be returning key offensive pieces in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Allar will look to improve his draft stock next season while also having his eyes set on making a national championship appearance.
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