‘We got his back’: Penn State football players defend Drew Allar after late-game interception

Penn State football took possession at its own 15-yard line with 47 seconds, two timeouts, and an opportunity to punch its ticket to the National Championship. Two plays later, the Nittany Lions defense was back on the field, hoping, and ultimately failing, to prevent Notre Dame from kicking an Orange Bowl-winning field goal.

Looking to cement his legacy as Penn State starting quarterback, Drew Allar instead had his 21st pass of the evening find the waiting hands of Fighting Irish defensive back Christian Gray. Allar’s 10th interception of his career, the play ultimately will be the defining moment of the former five-star’s time in Happy Valley to date.

“I was going through my progression, got to the backside, and honestly, I was just trying to throw it at his feet, but I should have just thrown it away,” said Allar, who finished the night 12-23 for 135 yards.

“I felt the first two progressions not open just because of the situation we were in, but I was just trying to throw it at Omari’s [Evans] feet, but just didn’t execute what I was trying to do.”

“I don’t want to hear that it’s his fault”: Penn State football teammates rally behind Drew Allar after Orange Bowl

© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

But despite being the final twist in the Nittany Lions’ 2024 season, the Penn State locker room came to the defense of its quarterback after the game.

“He puts a lot of pressure on himself,” tight end Tyler Warren said. “And he’s a competitor, so any situation like for anybody as a competitor is going to be tough. But we have his back. You know, he’s our quarterback. We got his back.”

“I love Drew. I don’t really care what other people have to say,” defense end Dani Dennis-Sutton said. “I know what he does and what he’s capable of. He didn’t lose us this game. The defense allowed way too many points. If we didn’t allow them to get 24 points and score that last drive, Drew wouldn’t be in that position.

“Nobody is putting this stuff on Drew, and he’s won us games this season. So I don’t want to hear that it’s his fault. I don’t want to hear that, respectfully.”

Allar finished his junior year 262-394 with 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Already announcing his return for the 2025 season, Allar will look to learn from Thursday’s Orange Bowl as he makes one more title push with Penn State football.

“I learned a lot about myself, and I think it’s a credit to the coaching staff for just allowing me to be me,” he said of the season. “I think I grew a lot, on the field, off the field.

“Just looking forward to continuing to grow, learn more about myself, get better in any way I can, on the field, off the field. Just looking forward to the opportunity. Definitely going to learn from this and move on and take it on the chin right now.”

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