When Penn State quarterback Drew Allar announced he would return to Happy Valley for the 2025 season, fans were rightfully ecstatic.

The junior was fresh off one of the best games of his career in the Big Ten Championship against Oregon, and with Beau Pribula in the transfer portal, the future of Penn State at quarterback was unknown.

Allar went on to continue his performances with a combined 298 passing yards and three touchdowns against SMU and Boise State in the College Football Playoff.

Despite his impressive performances throughout the 2024 season, what fans remember most is the interception he threw with 35 seconds left in the Orange Bowl, setting up Notre Dame’s winning field goal.

Since then, Allar and quarterbacks coach Danny O’Brien have sat down and rewatched the whole Notre Dame game multiple times. Now, the original emotions have turned to motivation for Allar and the whole team.

“They’re kids, and they’re human beings. Failing in such a big stage in a big spotlight, it’s humbling,” O’Brien said. “But it’s put a chip on their shoulder going into this offseason in terms of, hey, we’re that close. Now, it’s just these little gains here and there to get us over the hump.”

One aspect of Allar’s game he has been working on with James Franklin and O’Brien is his mental. O’Brien noted that no one wants it more than Allar, but he has to learn how to use his emotions at the right time.

O’Brien said a lot of the mental side of the game comes from experience and playing live, something Allar has done a lot of now heading into year three.

“It’s oftentimes just doing our job and then knowing those moments in games when, OK, maybe [emotion’s] not right, and it’s my job to be the eraser of the team,” O’Brien said.

Allar has improved each year he has been at Penn State, a trend he first started in high school. He initially received interest from Penn State as a three-star recruit, before ending his time at Medina High School as a five-star, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.

“Yeah, he’s been good, like I mentioned. He’s progressed every single year,” Franklin said. “You know, we need him to continue to take another step this year in every area, just like he already has.”

One aspect of the offense this year, that will allow for more development from the Nittany Lions quarterback, is a consistent offensive coordinator and the addition of Trace McSorley as an assistant quarterbacks coach. O’Brien noted how much he has learned from offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, but also cited McSorley as a huge help with the quarterbacks this spring.

“Having played here, having played at a high level and played in the NFL, it’s made our room better, we’re able to split up into two groups at times, meet together,” O’Brien said. “[I] always want to know how he’s done things or how he’s been taught things again.

Another confidence builder for Allar will be his new receiver room. In the game against Notre Dame, not a single wide receiver recorded a catch. After the loss, though, Trey Wallace, Julian Fleming, and Omari Evans entered the transfer portal or declared for the NFL Draft.

The Nittany Lions rebuilt the receiver room before spring practice with the arrival of transfers Devonte Ross and Kyron Hudson, as well as the new freshmen class getting to campus.

“I think Kyron and Devonte have been great adds, not only as players, they’re certainly very talented and they flash, but fitting the culture of this team,” O’Brien said. “They work really hard. They’re ball guys.”