Drew Allar discusses secret to Penn State’s success in 2024

By nearly any metric, 2024 has been one of the most successful seasons in Penn State football history. James Franklin has led the Nittany Lions to 12 wins for only the fourth time in school history and currently has the program on the doorstep of playing for the National Championship for the first time in the College Football Playoff era.

What has made the 137th version of the Nittany Lions so special? Speaking during a Fiesta Bowl press conference on Thursday, starting quarterback Drew Allar explained that Penn State’s “secret sauce” lies in its people.

“I think overall, it’s our culture,” Allar said. “Obviously, I can’t speak on anywhere else, just because I’ve never been anywhere else but Penn State. But the culture inside the locker room, between players, coaching staff, and support staff is second to none.

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

“I think that’s what makes us different at the end of the day. We all have the same goal, and we’re all in alignment with each other. It’s different now, but I think that’s one of our strengths as a program in general, is just the culture. It’s been the best experience I ever could have asked for ever since I stepped on campus.

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“The older guys, taking the young guys under their wings and showing us the ropes. Then, when it’s our time to be the older guys, like we are now, carrying that tradition on and helping out the young guys however we can. Whether it’s just managing the school day; how to be a Penn State football player at the end of the day. Or just the Xs and Os, and them asking us questions and being like a second coach for them that they can just go up and ask questions to.

“I think that’s the thing that really makes us special, just how connected we are with one another and just our culture in general.”

Penn State football will look to win its 13th game of the season for the first time in program history and, more importantly, advance to the College Football Playoff Semifinals when the Nittany Lions battle the Boise State Broncos in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl next week. Kickoff from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve.

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