All Eyes on Allar: Penn State’s 2025 Playoff Fate Depends on Passing Game Chemistry

Penn State opens the 2025 college football campaign ranked inside the top five of every major preseason poll — a testament to a loaded defense, a veteran offensive line, and a quarterback many believe is in the Heisman hunt.

Quarterback Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions hands off the ball to Running Back Kaytron Allen #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the Penn State Nittany Lions versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire)

But that last piece — the quarterback — is also where the conversation gets interesting. Quarterback Drew Allar returns under center after a season that left fans and analysts split. If we just review the stat sheet, everything looks fine: he was efficient and protected the football well. Turn on the tape and you’ll see the flaws: missed throws in key moments, stalled red-zone drives, and a tendency to hesitate instead of trusting his instincts.

This year, Allar’s challenge intensifies with an entirely new receiver corps. He'll be throwing to Kyron Hudson (USC transfer), Devonte Ross (Troy transfer), and Trebor Peña (Syracuse transfer). While Peña and Ross posted strong numbers last season, they did so against weaker defenses in less competitive conferences.

Devonte Ross

Ross led Troy's passing attack with 76 receptions, 1,043 yards, and 11 touchdowns — leading the Sun Belt in scores. Over 20% of Ross’ yardage and a third of his touchdowns came against FCS opponent FAMU, raising concerns about how he’ll fare against Big Ten defensive backs. At 5'11" and 170 pounds, Ross will face a steep adjustment in physical matchups.

Trebor Peña

Peña might be the strongest addition of the trio. The 5'11", 180-pound slot weapon led the ACC in receptions (79) and topped Syracuse in receiving touchdowns with nine. He worked with Kyle McCord, who led the ACC in passing yards and touchdowns, and stood out even among a deep receiver group.

Kyron Hudson

Hudson, the 6'1", 205-pound USC transfer, was more of a middle-of-the-road player. He was fifth on the Trojans in receptions, fourth in yards, and sixth in touchdowns, never truly breaking out as a featured weapon.

Running Game

While questions surround the passing game, Penn State’s ground attack provides a much-needed foundation. The Nittany Lions return two 1,000-yard rushers in Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Singleton, at 6'0" and 224 pounds, adds explosiveness and versatility as both a runner and receiver — last year he caught 41 passes for 375 yards and 5 touchdowns, making him a valuable safety valve for Allar. Allen, slightly smaller at 5'11" and 221 pounds, is a physical, downhill runner who quietly piled up 1,108 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground.

The presence of this elite backfield does more than just stabilize the offense. It forces defenses to respect the run, creating play-action opportunities that could help the new wideouts gain confidence and space. In the red zone, where Allar struggled most, the backs offer reliable, high-percentage options to finish drives without relying solely on contested throws to receivers he hasn’t yet fully trusted.

Looking Ahead

The Nittany Lions open the season with three warm-up games against Nevada, FIU, and Villanova, but get their first test on September 27 against the Oregon Ducks. The offense will have had time to gel before this year’s White Out game (7:30PM kickoff *looking at you Big Noon Kickoff*).

No matter what happens with Oregon, head coach James Franklin will still have that ever-present monkey on his back when he visits Columbus on November 1 to play the Buckeyes. With a bye the previous week, Franklin will have two weeks to game plan for Ryan Day. If Ohio State can’t figure out their quarterback situation, the Nittany Lions could pull out a win in The Shoe, something they haven’t done since 2011.

Penn State has the roster to take another trip deep into the College Football Playoffs. Their success hinges on how quickly Allar and his new weapons can get into sync. In order for Singleton and Allen to be effective on the ground, the passing game must be respected. For now, though, the hype is real, and the expectations are warranted in State College — but this is the Big Ten, potential means nothing without production.