There is no doubt that the highly anticipated 2025 Penn State football season has taken an unfavorable turn. Following a tumultuous two-game losing streak, including a loss to unranked UCLA, which knocked the program out of the AP Poll for the first time since week two of the 2022 season, Drew Allar is leaning on coaching, ambition, and team camaraderie to ‘right [their] wrongs’.

Penn State enters week seven 0-2 in Big Ten play, for the first time since 2012. Questions now spiral as to whether it can still contend for a playoff bid and championship, and more importantly, how they will respond in the second half of the regular season?

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar’s response? Well, he was going to do everything in his power to get this right.

Allar expressed that while the team dynamic is not particularly happy, it is more motivated than ever, given everything that has transpired. He shared on Wednesday that he is confident in the group’s set of leaders to help the team rebound.

“We can’t control anything outside of our own building besides what we do every day to prepare and get ready for this game on Saturday, and go out and play the best football that we can,” he said.

Amidst an ambiguous time for Penn State, which is surrounded by conversations regarding the future of its coaching staff, Allar is blocking out the noise. He’s turned his focus to team camaraderie, his relationships, and performing for his coaches.

Allar elaborated on the trust and transparency he shares in what he described as his great relationship with offensive coordinator Andy Koltenicki.

“He’s very open, ears to everything” Allar said. “This Saturday showed it. There were a couple places where they were driving a couple of our routes, and I made mention to him and some of the receivers made mention to him about adjustments we can make. We ended up scoring on the play later because he listened to us and saw what we were talking about.”

Coach James Franklin was another pinpoint of motive for Allar.

“I know he’s getting a lot of criticism, and I’m excited to go out there and play another game for him because there’s no other coach in the country that I’d rather be going out there for on a Saturday.” Allar added that a major reason in his decision to even come back and compete in his senior year was because of him.

Now, he emphasizes that it has become their job as players to go out and produce for him. “We’re the ones to go out and fix the situation we’re in,” said Allar.

Amidst criticisms, the quarterback restored faith in his Unrivaled brotherhood, which he credited to Franklin.

Allar’s preparation for Northwestern? Going out and setting the tone during practice. “Whether it’s the way I’m carrying myself mentally and physically or being more vocal, [I’m] trying to bring an edge to myself during practice and being at a competitive level, ” he said.

In his contest against UCLA, Allar was regarded by many analysts as one of the top performers for the Nittany Lions. The senior recorded 200 passing yards, completing 19 of 26 passes, and ran for a career-high 78 rushing yards, including a 57-yard scramble. In his last two starts alone, Allar has had three 20+ yard runs, which is more than his first 32 starts combined.

Allar shared his explosiveness is something he has re-activated from high school to bring to this offense. At Medina High School, he rushed for a career 788 yards. He now has worked closely with strength coach Coach Losey to continue to bring that to this Penn State offense.

“To me, there’s really no bad play call because I’m always in the ability to make the play right. Maybe, it’s not the most ideal play call, but I just got to make one guy miss, and then turn it into an explosive run,” he said.

Another point of emphasis: maintaining relationships with his wide receiver room and running backs, and giving them consistent opportunities to make plays.

“Going forward is just about taking it one day at a time and pouring everything that we can as players into each day of practice,” said Allar. “It starts with me going out there and executing at a high level so we can put our best brand of football out there.”