Penn State’s Offense Made Significant Strides in the Big Ten Title Game. Here’s the Latest:

The Nittany Lions dominated on the ground with nearly 300 rushing yards, and quarterback Drew Allar showcased his advanced passing skills against the Oregon Ducks.

Although the Big Ten Championship ended in disappointment for Penn State with a 45-37 loss to Oregon, the team’s offense showed considerable progress. The Nittany Lions outgained the nation’s top-ranked team, totaling 518 yards to Oregon’s 466 in an 82-point thriller — their highest-scoring game of the season. This performance hints at Penn State reaching a new offensive peak just in time for the College Football Playoff.

Drew Allar Shows His Potential

Penn State’s second-year quarterback, Drew Allar, had a mixed outing, throwing two costly interceptions. However, he excelled overall against Oregon’s formidable defense, which led the Big Ten in sacks (40) and passes defended (62) during the regular season. Allar finished with 229 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and 54 rushing yards, delivering throws that few college quarterbacks are capable of making.

“I think [Allar] had probably five or six plays that rank among the best of his career,” James Franklin said Sunday. “But he also had four or five throws he’d want back—throws he typically doesn’t miss. He also made some big plays with his legs. Overall, I’m very, very pleased with his development, maturity, and leadership.”

Allar’s standout moment came late in the game on a crucial fourth down, with Penn State fighting to overcome a 15-point deficit. Under intense pressure and with his jersey being grabbed by an Oregon defender, Allar displayed remarkable poise. He flicked his wrist and delivered a pinpoint pass between two Ducks defenders, finding Harrison Wallace III in the end zone for a touchdown.

Allar showcased his skill with impressive throws from various arm angles throughout the game. As the playoffs approach, he has accumulated 2,894 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, maintaining a 69.1% completion rate. Additionally, he has rushed for 279 yards and six touchdowns.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Allar is an intriguing draft prospect. Strong performances in the College Football Playoff could propel him up the draft boards. Alternatively, if he returns, he could elevate the Nittany Lions’ offense even further in 2025.

WHILE THEY WERE HOLDING ONTO ALLAR’S JERSEY HE THROWS A TOUCHDOWN! pic.twitter.com/zPO3GAVmy1

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) December 8, 2024

“I think from year one to year two, he’s made a significant jump,” Franklin said. “The scary and exciting thing is that I still believe there’s a lot of room for growth in him.”

“They’re two special backs.”

Penn State’s ground game dominated one of the nation’s top run defenses, rushing for 292 yards. While scrambling plays from Allar and Beau Pribula contributed, it was the backfield duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen that did most of the damage against the Ducks.

Both running backs topped 100 yards (Allen with 124, Singleton with 105), caught at least three passes (Singleton with four, Allen with three), and each scored a touchdown. Penn State’s split backfield was a force on Saturday, with both Allen and Singleton powering through a defense that had allowed only 112.2 rushing yards per game heading into the Big Ten Championship.

“I think it starts with the type of players they are. They’re two special backs. Obviously, they’re great players, but they’re also exceptional teammates and people,” Allar said Saturday. “When they get rolling, they’re really tough to stop. There were a few times they bounced off defenders at the line of scrimmage and made something out of nothing. It’s a credit to their talent and to the offensive line for having a strong performance up front.”

Throughout the season, Franklin, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, and running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider have balanced the carries between Allen and Singleton to keep both healthy and productive. However, there have been times when one back has taken the lead, either due to momentum or minor injuries. Saturday’s game marked the first time since Week 2 against Bowling Green that both backs topped 100 rushing yards in the same game.

“Obviously, that’s the ideal situation, but it starts up front. Our offensive line did a really good job against a front that we had a lot of respect for,” Franklin said. “I thought Nick and Kaytron did well breaking tackles, making defenders miss, and falling forward. That was a big positive. It’s something we want to maintain for the rest of the season. It’s important, but it’s a challenge.”

Unlike in other games, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (84 receiving yards, two rushing yards) didn’t need to carry a heavy workload against Oregon to keep the offense going. The performance of Allar and the run game could be a promising indicator of Penn State’s potential in the postseason, as the 37 points scored were the most the Ducks have allowed all season.

“We played the No. 1 team in the country and had a chance to win the game at the end,” Franklin said. “I’m proud of our guys. We’re going to learn from it, flush it, and move forward. We’ll get better because of it. We will improve because of this.”

Penn State will host SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on December 21, with kickoff at noon ET on TNT.