Drew Allar out for season: what it means for Penn State today and his path ahead

Drew Allar will not suit up for Penn State’s trip to Columbus today after a season-ending leg injury suffered in the Northwestern game three weeks ago. The development reshaped the Nittany Lions’ year and turned today’s matchup into a test of depth, improvisation, and patience.

Who starts in place of Drew Allar vs. Ohio State

Penn State is expected to lean on Ethan Grunkemeyer as QB1, with Bekkem Kritza available as the next man up. With Jaxon Smolik also sidelined, the staff has simplified the call sheet: quicker reads, heavier run-pass options, and defined half-field throws to keep the chains moving. Look for more tight end involvement and motion to identify coverage before the snap.

Keys without Allar

• Tempo management: shorten the game, protect field position, avoid long down-and-distance.

• Early down efficiency: outsized value on 4–6 yard gains to keep pressure off a young quarterback.

• Shot selection: occasional play-action verticals to prevent safeties from crashing the box.

How the injury unfolded — and the latest on recovery

Allar exited late against Northwestern after a scramble near the sticks. Subsequent evaluations confirmed a season-ending injury; he underwent surgery in mid-October and began early rehab soon after. The timeline effectively closes the book on his 2025 campaign. Because the injury occurred after he had already crossed typical participation thresholds, a medical hardship waiver is unlikely, making this the final collegiate snap count of his career unless rules shift.

Penn State’s staff emphasized two goals: stabilize the offense now and place Allar on a measured return-to-play ramp focused on long-term mobility and drive mechanics.

What this means for Penn State’s offense

With Allar, the Lions built a passing menu around arm strength, boundary comebacks, and layered intermediate digs. Without him, expect:

• More gap and duo runs with constraint plays attached (bubbles, slants) for on-rhythm gains.

• Boots and nakeds to move the launch point, reducing pure dropback volume.

• Simplified protections and hot rules to keep the ball out on time.

Defensively, opponents will challenge the edges and dare Penn State to win tight windows outside the numbers. Converting red-zone trips into touchdowns—historically a swing stat in this series—becomes the barometer of whether today remains competitive into the fourth quarter.

Drew Allar’s college résumé, by the numbers

• Games played: 45

• Career passing: 7,400+ yards, 60+ TD, low-teens INTs

• Signature year: Led a 13–3 run and a Playoff semifinal appearance last season

• Traits on tape: Prototypical size, top-tier velocity, improved pocket poise, plus red-zone decision-making

The raw totals and trajectory position Allar as one of the most productive quarterbacks of the modern Penn State era, even with the abrupt finish.

Draft outlook: questions scouts will work to answer

Allar’s injury shifts the evaluation from late-season tape to medicals, historic film, and the interview board. The core questions:

1. Lower-body mechanics post-surgery: Does he regain full torque transfer from base to shoulder in pro-day settings?

2. Pressure answers: Teams will revisit 2024 film for hot solutions and late-down pocket navigation.

3. Explosive throws vs. turnover avoidance: His downfield aggression generally came without reckless risk—clubs will quantify that balance.

4. Timeline to full participation: Spring medical rechecks will matter as much as any scripted throwing session.

If recovery benchmarks are met, Allar remains a top-of-board arm talent in the upcoming quarterback cycles, with interviews and board work amplifying his stock.

Program stakes the rest of the way

Penn State’s margin narrows without Allar, but there’s opportunity in the reset:

• Identity clarity: Lean into defense and special teams while the offense prioritizes possession value.

• Reps for the room: Real snaps for Grunkemeyer/Kritza accelerate the 2026 pipeline.

• Transfer portal calculus: How the depth performs now will shape offseason priorities.

Today’s checklist without Allar

• Win the hidden yards: punts, penalties, and return phase.

• Third-and-manageable: keep attempts at ≤ 3rd-and-5 as often as possible.

• Red-zone calls: pre-planned two-point and fourth-down packages to avoid hesitation.

Big picture

Drew Allar’s season is over, but his NFL path isn’t. The next several months are about healing, mechanics, and interviews. For Penn State, the immediate story is survival and incremental growth around a new signal-caller. If the offense stays on schedule and the defense forces long fields, the Lions can make today—and the final stretch—more about grit than grief.