Drew Allar describes what he saw on late-game interception vs. Notre Dame

Penn State QB Drew Allar threw the game-losing interception in the Orange Bowl, as Notre Dame would go on to make their kick following the pick.

The first question that Allar got immediately after the 27-24 loss was about that turnover. He explained that, once he got to the right side of the field on his read, he was just trying to throw the ball low. However, it was absolutely in play with it ending in an interception.

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“Yeah, I mean, I was going through my progression, uh, got to the backside and, honestly, I was just trying to throw it at his feet,” Allar said postgame. “But, I mean, it just – I should have just thrown it away when I felt the first two progressions not open just because of the situation we were in. But I was just trying to dirt it at Omari’s feet.”

The Nittany Lions got the ball back with less than a minute to go to either win it or at least send it overtime. It was 1st & 10 at the 28 when Allar dropped back and, after getting from the left side of the field back to the right, threw it to WR Omari Evans as he himself was getting hit. Whether affected by the hit or that the pass was off target to begin with, it didn’t get there as CB Christian Gray, who got inside leverage on the throw, made the play to set the Fighting Irish up to win it.

Allar finished 12-23 (52.2%) for 135 yards, no touchdowns, and the interception. That tied for his fewest passing yards in a game this season while being one of his lowest completion rates and one of four outings all year where he didn’t throw for a score. He had actually thrown another pick in the fourth quarter of this one too in trying to connect with TE Tyler Warren in triple coverage but a pass interference call on the play took it back.

Allar, along with Penn State’s pass game overall, did not have his best performance in the biggest game of their season and in recent history. The memory of it, though, will be a costly play that he said he was never trying to make to begin with.

“Just didn’t execute what I was trying to do,” Allar said.