Penn State's star quarterback Drew Allar's decision to return for his senior year in 2025 has sent ripples through the college football landscape and the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. With his remarkable career stats and emerging NFL prospect status, Allar's choice holds significant implications.

Drew Allar's Senior Year Decision Shapes the Future

Allar's Career at Penn State

Drew Allar has made an indelible mark during his time at Penn State. As stated, he has thrown for an astonishing 5,869 yards and an impressive 50 touchdowns in his career. His 21-5 record as a starter is a testament to his leadership and skill on the field. His completion percentage of 63.6% stands as the highest in school history, along with the highest passing efficiency rating of 146.4 and the lowest interception rate of 1.16. Just nine career picks in 773 attempts showcase his accuracy and decision-making.In 2023, he had 25 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, demonstrating his consistency. This season, under the more aggressive scheme of offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, he has 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions, with his yards-per-attempt average increasing from 6.8 in 2023 to 8.9. His 6-foot-5, 235-pound size fits the NFL archetype perfectly, making him an attractive prospect.

The 2024 Season and Big Ten Title

Allar had a strong finish to the 2024 season, leading Penn State to the Big Ten title game and a No. 6 seed in the College Football Playoff. His performance was crucial in getting the Nittany Lions to this stage. The team will now host No. 11 SMU in the first round of the CFP on Dec. 21, with Allar expected to play a key role.

His NFL Prospect Status

Over the final weeks of the season, Allar has emerged as an interesting NFL prospect. The current quarterback class is considered weaker than last year's, when a record six signal-callers were chosen among the top 12 picks. After Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward, there is ambiguity over which quarterback will be chosen next. Among ESPN analysts, Mel Kiper Jr. had Allar No. 4 in his latest quarterback rankings for the upcoming draft, and Jordan Reid put him No. 3 at the position and No. 30 overall. ESPN's Matt Miller also ranked Allar No. 30 overall if he had decided to go out in this draft. His expected return now positions him at the top of the 2026 NFL draft quarterback conversation, putting him alongside LSU's Garrett Nussmeier.

The Backup Quarterback's Decision

In the wake of Allar's decision, backup quarterback Beau Pribula made the decision Sunday night to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He informed PSU officials that he will not stay with the team during the College Football Playoff. This further emphasizes the importance of Allar's presence and the impact his decision has on the team's quarterback situation.