Peach Bowl recap: Penn State QB Drew Allar focused on leadership going into 2024

Penn State football heads into the new year after suffering its third and final loss of 2023 to Ole Miss in Saturday’s Peach Bowl. The 38-25 loss to the Rebels proved to be a fitting end to a season marked by unmet expectations on the offensive side of the ball. But the year also presents the opportunity for improvement for many returning Nittany Lions. Leading the way, quite literally, will be QB Drew Allar, who plans to use this offseason to become a more vocal leader in 2024.

Hollow end to a hollow season for Penn State offseason

The 2023 Peach Bowl was a shootout, one in which Penn State football was sorely outmatched. Ole Miss had its way on offense, and the Nittany Lions failed to match the pace in the second half.

It was a mixed outing for Drew Allar, who finished with 295 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. However, for the third consecutive game against top-15 competition, the sophomore QB failed to complete more than 50% of his passes. Allar finishes the year with a 60% completion rate, 2,631 passing yards, and a 25-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

In many ways, Allar’s performance was a microcosm of the entire season for the Penn State offense. A top-30 team in scoring, rushing, and QBR, there are plenty of positives to draw from the Nittany Lions this year. But the gaudy numbers – Penn State did put up 510 yards in the Peach Bowl, after all – feel hollow after coming up small in the biggest games of the season.

Drew Allar is focused on leadership heading into 2024

If Penn State football is going to take a step forward in 2024, then the Nittany Lions offense needs to correct its woes from 2023. As part of that, Drew Allar needs to take a step forward in his development as well.

This fact isn’t lost on the Nittany Lions’ sophomore signal caller. Following Saturday’s loss, Allar told the media he understands that he must get better this offseason.

“There’s definitely a lot of areas I need to improve on,” Allar said. “Going into the spring and this offseason, I’m going to do everything in my power to get better every day. Whether it be off-the-field stuff, or training in the weight room, or out on the field mechanically and stuff like that, I’m going to do everything I can do to get us to that point.”

Specifically, Allar expressed that he wants to become a more vocal leader in 2024.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to be more vocal,” he said. “Whether it be communicating with the players or communicating to staff about what we think as players, it’s a great opportunity for me to expand upon my voice and work on it.”

Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss will undoubtedly leave a bitter taste for those around the Penn State football program heading into the winter. But with setbacks comes the opportunity for growth. We will have to wait eight months to see if the Nittany Lions seize their chance next fall.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!