Penn State head coach James Franklin issues a bold remark regarding Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Additionally, full details are revealed about Penn State quarterback Drew Allar being unfairly overlooked for All-Big Ten honors. Here’s the full story:

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin made a strong statement regarding Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel ahead of the Big Ten Championship.

The highly anticipated Big Ten Championship is set to take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where the undefeated Oregon Ducks will face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Leading up to the game, Penn State head coach James Franklin shared his thoughts on Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Gabriel has been one of the top quarterbacks in the NCAA this season, playing a pivotal role in helping the Ducks achieve an undefeated regular season. As Oregon aims to capture the Big Ten Championship on December 7, they enter the contest as the number one ranked team in the nation. However, Penn State is determined to derail Oregon’s perfect debut season in the conference.

Despite initial doubts, the Oregon Ducks have successfully translated their PAC-12 dominance into the Big Ten. Under the guidance of head coach Dan Lanning and with Dillon Gabriel leading a remarkable season, Oregon has solidified its reputation and emerged as the team to beat in college football. The bar for excellence in college football has now been set in Eugene.

EUGENE, OREGON – NOVEMBER 30: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oregon Ducks warms up before the game against the Washington Huskies at Autzen Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)

As the Nittany Lions prepare for the biggest game of the year, head coach James Franklin discussed the tough challenge that lies ahead in facing Lanning, Gabriel, and the most potent offense in the Big Ten.

“For me, what stands out about him? It feels like he’s been playing college football for the last ten years,” Franklin said, via On3. “He’s just so poised and relaxed. When you watch him play, he looks so calm and in control. You’re not going to present him with much that he hasn’t already seen.”

Gabriel’s stats
As Franklin mentioned, Gabriel is far from just another college quarterback. The second-year senior has had an outstanding season with the Oregon Ducks. Gabriel transferred to Eugene after spending two years at Oklahoma, following a three-year stint at UCF.

In 2024, Gabriel totaled 3,275 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. Additionally, he contributed 175 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns to his impressive season.

Oregon secures Gabriel’s successor
With Gabriel preparing to enter the NFL after the season, Lanning and the Ducks have secured his replacement. Five-star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele recently flipped his commitment from California to Oregon and is set to take over as the quarterback of the future in Eugene.

Despite a standout junior season under first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, Drew Allar was overlooked for All-Big Ten honors, with Ohio State’s Will Howard earning the third-team spot instead.

WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 16: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions steps back to pass against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on November 16, 2024 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

In his second year as Penn State’s starting quarterback, Allar made significant strides, beginning to fulfill the expectations placed on him as a five-star recruit. He led the Nittany Lions to an 11-1 record and a place in the Big Ten Championship Game. However, despite his impressive performance, Allar was only named an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

The three quarterbacks selected for the All-Big Ten teams were Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke, and Ohio State’s Will Howard. While Gabriel, a fringe Heisman contender who guided the Ducks to a 12-0 regular season, and Rourke, who completed over 70% of his passes with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions, are understandable picks, Howard’s selection as third-team quarterback over Allar is seen as a major oversight.

While third-team All-Big Ten honors aren’t the primary goal for Drew Allar in his junior year, it’s still worth noting how much more impressive his performance has been compared to Will Howard. While their stats are comparable, a deeper evaluation of their play reveals significant differences, especially given that both quarterbacks are leading national championship contenders.

2024 Stats Comparison:

While Howard has posted impressive numbers, it’s hard to ignore the weapons at his disposal, notably Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. The Kansas State transfer was handed a highly talented roster, essentially the college football equivalent of a $20 million Lamborghini, and tasked with not wrecking it. However, in his most crucial games, he’s faced more than just minor setbacks.

Against Oregon, Will Howard was outstanding, throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns, but his performance took a downturn at a crucial moment. With the game on the line in a one-point contest, he slid late, allowing the clock to run out. Then, in the game against Michigan, with a spot in the conference championship up for grabs, Howard threw two critical interceptions. One came from his own four-yard line, leading to Michigan’s only touchdown, and the other in the red zone, costing his team valuable points in a three-point loss.

Even in the head-to-head matchup between Howard and Drew Allar, where Ohio State defeated Penn State at Beaver Stadium, Howard was the reason the Nittany Lions were still in the game. He gave Penn State a chance to tie the game on their final possession, despite an early pick-six on his first pass attempt and a fumble out of the end zone for a touchback. Those two mistakes, a 14-point swing, helped Ohio State secure a seven-point victory, which could have been much more decisive.

While Ryan Day’s struggles in big games and his inability to beat Michigan are major factors in Ohio State missing out on a rematch with Oregon this weekend, Will Howard shares some of the blame. Despite his performance, he was chosen over Drew Allar, who was hindered by poor wide receiver play in the game against Ohio State. Allar, however, still led Penn State to a crucial win against USC, converting two fourth downs during the game-tying drive and eventually closing it out in overtime. His mobility played a key role in those conversions, an area in which he has surprisingly outperformed Howard this season.

One of the main reasons Ohio State moved on from Kyle McCord for Howard was to find a more mobile quarterback, especially after Chip Kelly’s departure to become the offensive coordinator. Kelly’s vision was to have an athletic quarterback to run a diverse offense, which Howard showcased in the win over Penn State. However, Allar has actually outpaced Howard in rushing, tallying 225 yards and five touchdowns compared to Howard’s 131 yards and seven touchdowns.

Another reason for Howard’s promotion was McCord’s struggles under pressure, but Howard has not been a major improvement in that area. Howard averaged just over five yards per attempt on pressured dropbacks, while Allar ranked as the second-best quarterback in the Big Ten when operating in a muddied pocket.

Pressured Dropbacks:

Despite dealing with offensive line struggles due to season-ending injuries to key players like Josh Simmons and Seth McLaughlin, Drew Allar faced more pressure than Will Howard but was far more efficient under those circumstances. Allar’s passing was more effective, and he was also more successful as a scrambler. His pressure-to-sack ratio was nearly identical to Howard’s, yet Allar rarely took negative plays, often creating big plays outside the structure of the offense.

While Drew Allar likely doesn’t care about third-team All-Big Ten honors—especially with a game to prepare for—it’s worth noting his place among the conference’s top quarterbacks. Allar’s statistical resume may not have been as superior as Dillon Gabriel’s or Kurtis Rourke’s, but he’s clearly a top-three quarterback in the Big Ten. Unlike Howard, who has been a key figure in Ohio State’s losses, Allar is often the reason Penn State wins close games.