Drew Allar describes changes in postseason prep vs. 2023 bowl game

Drew Allar recognizes that preparing to make a run in the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff is a little different than playing a one-off bowl game.

The Penn State Nittany Lions got their first taste of action against SMU, where they scored 38 points in a resounding win. As they turn the page and hope to keep things rolling against the Boise State Broncos, Allar spoke to his team’s preparation for the all-important showdown.

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“I mean, I think it just starts with — the window was shorter this year than it was last year. Obviously, last year we had an extended time to prepare for the Peach Bowl. This year, it was kind of like a quicker turnaround, with the Big Ten Championship and then playing again like, two weeks later,” Allar explained, via a press conference ahead of the Quarterfinal showdown. “So, it’s a little bit just shorter, in general.

“But at the end of the day, our process — I love that we’re a process oriented team, and our process drives the way we function as a program. For us, it wasn’t really anything different, which I like, just because it’s our normal routine and habit and things like that. It wasn’t much different for me personally, but it was probably just a little bit of a quicker turnaround than it was, compared to last year.”

Last season, Penn State fell to Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl after having an extended period to prepare for the Rebels. Allar is certainly thankful that his team has played much better after an impressive regular season in 2024, and they’re hoping their season doesn’t end after their clash with the Broncos.

Time will tell if Penn State is able to get the job done, but a lot of it will depend on how Drew Allar plays against Boise State, that’s for sure. The pressure is on for the Penn State star quarterback come New Year’s Eve.

Drew Allar describes what stands out in Boise State’s defense

Continuing, Drew Allar continued to share his respect for Boise State, specifically focusing in on their defense, explaining what stands out about that unit to him this season.

“I think defensively, they’re a really sound unit,” Drew Allar said. “You don’t see many mistakes in the run game, like guys in the same gap. Not many blown coverages. So, I think they’re a very sound and disciplined group, and that starts with the coaching staff. They do a great job in getting those guys aligned in the right spots.” 

Through 13 games this season, Boise State is 32nd in the country in scoring defense, giving up 21.9 points per game. The Broncos are also 61st in total defense, giving up 361.9 yards per game.

“I think the biggest thing that sticks out about the players is just how hard they play to the whistle. They’re playing through the whistle every single snap there is,” Allar said. “So, a lot of respect for these guys. They’ve had a great season. So, it’s going to be a fun matchup.”

Luckily, for Drew Allar, Penn State has plenty of great options on offense to attack Boise State with. That starts with the running back tandem of Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen before extending to tight end Tyler Warren, who proved to be one of the best offensive players in the sport this season.

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.