Drew Allar is having the best time he’s ever had playing football.
As the leader of one of the most efficient offenses in the country, Penn State’s quarterback has been smiling all season long.
The junior has formed a strong partnership with new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, helping the No. 7 Nittany Lions (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) make the most big plays in the Big Ten and the third most in the nation. As they get ready to face UCLA (1-3, 0-2 Big Ten) in the last game of a four-game home stretch on Saturday, Allar believes they will only improve.
“There’s just a lot of positive energy on our side of the ball,” Allar said. “But also when things aren’t going right or the way we want, I think we’re doing a really good job of moving on from those plays, learning from them, and focusing on the next series.”
Penn State is also coming into Saturday’s game with the top-ranked rushing offense in the conference. With an aggressive offensive line that has worked well together, running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen have helped soften up defenses for Allar and his receivers to exploit.
On the other hand, UCLA is looking to avoid their fourth straight loss. In the six quarters since the Bruins’ offense last scored a touchdown, eight different Nittany Lions have reached the end zone.
Despite their recent struggles, the Bruins are staying positive.
Coach DeShaun Foster mentioned that he’s seen more players spending time in the film room, meeting with their position coaches, and putting in extra work during practice.
“I don’t see guys getting down on themselves,” Foster said. “It’s more about wanting to see things change.”
Even though the Bruins are heavy underdogs, Penn State coach James Franklin knows that a determined team can always surprise a stronger opponent, especially with No. 11 USC coming up next week.
“One of the things I talked to the team about is how important it is for us to take a big step this week,” Franklin said. “We don’t want to be one of those teams that has to face a setback before they finally wake up and take that step forward.”
