Penn State suffered a significant blow to its football season when star quarterback Drew Allar limped off the field during a third straight loss. Now, head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions must come to terms with a season without their senior leader under center.
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Penn State QB Drew Allar out for season with leg injury
Photo by Nbc10 Philadelphia
Key Takeaways:
- Quarterback Drew Allar is ruled out for the season with a leg injury.
- Penn State has lost three consecutive games, dropping from No. 2 in the rankings.
- Allar completes his career with 7,265 passing yards and 61 touchdowns.
- Backup Ethan Grunkemeyer now leads a team seeking a bowl bid.
- Head coach James Franklin calls for unity in the face of adversity.
Injury Reshapes Penn State’s Season
Drew Allar returned for his senior year determined to bring Penn State its first national championship since 1986. That dream officially faded late in a 22-21 loss to Northwestern on Saturday, when Allar suffered a leg injury that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Penn State’s head coach, James Franklin, confirmed the news, saying, “Drew will be done for the year.”
Third Straight Loss Sparks Disappointment
The Nittany Lions’ nail-biting defeat at the hands of Northwestern marked their third consecutive loss. Penn State had already slipped from No. 2 in the Top 25 following a crushing overtime defeat to Oregon and a surprising rout by a previously winless UCLA. The fall from grace, once unimaginable for a team with so much preseason promise, has cast a somber mood over Beaver Stadium.
Player and Coach Reactions
Staring at a 3-3 record overall and 0-3 in the Big Ten, Franklin acknowledged the gravity of the situation, saying, “Ultimately it’s about the guys in the locker room and they’re hurting.” Wide receiver Devonte Ross, who came to Penn State specifically to play with Allar, shared his own distress. “I love Drew,” he said. “It’s unfortunate. It’s a tough situation just knowing how much football means to him.”
Allar’s Remarkable Career
Before his season and college career came to an abrupt end, Allar left his mark in the record books. He departs Penn State with 7,265 passing yards, going 620-for-982 through the air, while notching 61 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. On the ground, he ran 218 times for 711 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Allar’s Career Stats at Penn State
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 7,265 |
| Completions/Attempts | 620 / 982 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 61 |
| Interceptions | 12 |
| Rushing Attempts | 218 |
| Rushing Yards | 711 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 11 |
Looking Ahead
Penn State must turn to backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who stepped in after Allar’s injury. The Nittany Lions’ upcoming schedule remains daunting, featuring trips to Iowa and matchups with Ohio State and Michigan State, plus a test at home against No. 7 Indiana. Franklin stressed unity as the path forward: “We’ve got to stick together, we’ve got to tune out all the noise and we’ve got to get to work.”
The road ahead may be difficult, but the Nittany Lions enter it with a renewed mission: to salvage what’s left of this season and honor the legacy of their fallen leader.
