Penn State quarterback Drew Allar’s sophomore season ended in heartbreak: a 27-24 semifinal loss to Notre Dame, defined by a late interception and missed opportunity. Rather than shy away from that memory, Allar is choosing transparency.
His willingness to “come clean” about the lingering emotional impact signals a shift in mindset, one that’s rooted in growth and championship aspirations. As Penn State enters the 2025 campaign ranked second nationally in the preseason AP Poll, Allar is embracing that pain as fuel.
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Owning the mistake: Allar’s emotional reckoning
The defining moment came when Allar’s cross-body pass to wide receiver Omari Evans, who didn’t help much, was picked off, ending Penn State’s national title dreams. He admitted, “I should have just thrown it away…I was just trying to dit it…but just didn’t execute”.
Instead of deflecting blame, Allar acknowledges how often that play still haunts him, but equally, how it’s becoming a powerful motivator for improvement.
Turning pain into purpose in 2025
Now, Allar is channeling that regret into purpose. With fall camp underway, he says he’s moved past it, but not forgotten it. That painful lession is sharpening his execution and leadership heding into a season stacked with promise.
Penn State’s lofty preseason ranking -its highest in nearly three decades- creates both expectation and opportunity. With the majority of the roster returning and a defense primed to dominate, Allar’s emotional honesty may catalyze a deeper, more focused run toward glory.