Penn State coach James Franklin isn’t certain if starting quarterback Drew Allar will be able to play when the third-ranked Nittany Lions face No. 4 Ohio State on Saturday.
Allar hurt his left knee late in the first half of Penn State’s 28-13 victory over Wisconsin last weekend. He came back for the second half wearing a knee brace, but after a brief and unproductive warm-up, he let Beau Pribula take over the offense.
Allar, who is key to Andy Kotelnicki’s exciting offense, has completed 117 of 164 passes for 1,640 yards this season, with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He hasn’t missed a game since he became the starter at the beginning of the 2023 season.
“It’s too early to tell at this point, but he’s played enough football that I think the decision will go all the way up to game time,” Franklin said.
Franklin mentioned after the win over Wisconsin that Allar told him he “couldn’t move well enough” to finish the game.
“Even at the end of the half there, you saw even throwing was challenging,” Franklin said. After the game, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound Allar walked over, hugged the 6-foot-2, 206-pound Pribula, and wished him good luck.
The sophomore dual-threat player kept the Nittany Lions moving. Pribula led two touchdown drives, completing 11 of 13 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, along with four carries for eight yards.
If Pribula is needed to make his first start on Saturday, he will face the nation’s second-ranked defense in a game that has significant conference championship and playoff stakes.
Franklin mentioned that the Nittany Lions will also try to get third-string quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer more practice alongside Pribula this week. Freshman Jaxon Smolik is still recovering from a preseason injury.
“The reality is, we’re going to have to have both guys ready and you could make the argument, all three guys ready,” Franklin said.
