Quarterback play overtly key in Penn State’s top-25 showdown

UNIVERSITY PARK (Nittany Nation) — Quarterback play will be overtly important Saturday when Penn State hosts no. 19 Illinois. It’s a battle between two vastly improved quarterbacks, Penn State’s Drew Allar and Illinois’ Luke Altmyer.

“I think he’s got 10 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. I think he’s one of the more improved players right now in college football,” head coach James Franklin said of Altmyer.

Altmyer’s 2023 season wasn’t terrible on paper, but he was less impressive by the eye test. That will sound awfully familiar for Penn State fans who were especially critical of Allar last season.

In that vein, neither played well in Penn State’s 30-13 win in Champagne. Altmyer threw four interceptions and was benched, while Allar was held below 50-percent passing.

But Franklin said none of that means much this time around.

“They have new coaches, we have new coaches,” heFranklin. “You have different personnel which in some ways allows you to do different things or more things, you know, to play to the strengths of your current team and also to hide some of your deficiencies or areas that you’re working on. So it’s a piece, but I wouldn’t say it’s a significant piece, especially at this point.”

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Like Altmyer, Allar has taken a step forward. One of the most impressive metrics that shows this his 12.6 yards-per-attempt, almost double the 6.8 yards he averaged a season ago. In Penn State’s 56-point win Saturday against Kent State, Allar threw for 309 yards in just over one-half of play. It was his first 300-yard outing since last season’s opener.

“He’s one of the most talented quarterbacks I’ve ever been around by far,” said junior quarterback Liam Clifford. “(He has) crazy arm strength. And again, it’s just cool. Kind of like I was talking about the receivers. I’ve always known he’s been capable, but then finally just putting bits and pieces together, being able to really put it on display has been fun to watch.”

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