Drew Allar says 2022 Michigan team was hardest team he's faced

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gave a lot of props to Michigan for their 2022 meeting. The Wolverines were the toughest team he faced up to that point.

Of course, Allar and the Nittany Lions will get another crack at the Wolverines in 2023, the last year of division play in the Big Ten. The two-time defending Big Ten champions were certainly a thorn in everyone’s side last year in the conference.

Joining Next Up with Adam Breneman, Allar detailed why playing Michigan was beneficial.

“It would definitely probably be that Michigan game,” Allar said. “That was probably the best team that I played against this year. And just going in and playing against those guys, it definitely gave me a sense of realization of what it’s like playing that type of team and I think that really benefited me the rest of the season. I felt like I did, like for the most part, pretty well in that game. There’s just a couple of things I needed to clean up that game. 

“But I’d say that just because of the situation we were in at the time and what was going on and how that game was turning out, was definitely probably just in college the most adversity so far.”

Allar got some playing time in that one. He went 5-of-10 passing for 37 yards. Not starting quarterback numbers, but Allar didn’t find many holes in the Michigan defense when he was in.

At the time of the game, both teams were undefeated. Penn State traveled to Ann Arbor and the wheels came off after the first half.

Leading 16-14 at halftime, Michigan came out firing and Allar couldn’t do anything about it. In fact, the whole team couldn’t do anything.

Michigan went on to win 41-17 in a blowout matchup of two top 10 teams at that point. Starting quarterback Sean Clifford didn’t have a great game either. He went 7-of-19 passing for 120 yards.

Clifford actually led the team in rushing that day. He had 74 yards off six carries while running back Nick Singleton finished with 19 yards off six carries.

Allar and Penn State will battle with Michigan once again in 2023. It could be a Big Ten title game eliminator due to the stacked division that includes Ohio State.

Circle your calendars for Nov. 11 as Michigan comes to Penn State this time around. In a late season tilt, it could mean everything.