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What went wrong on Penn State's game-changing interception? Drew Allar, Andy Kotelnicki explain

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•about 11 hours•

GregPickel

NCAA Football: Orange Bowl-Notre Dame at Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) looks to pass in the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. (Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

MIAMI — Penn State did not lose 27-24 to Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl solely because of Drew Allar’s fourth quarter interception that set up Fighting Irish kicker Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard game-winning field goal. But, it was obviously a big reason why the Lions’ 2024 season is over and also one of the most discussed plays of the game.

With the contest tied at 24 with under 40 seconds to go, the junior dropped back to pass on 1st and 10 at his own 28. He first looked to his left, initially at Trey Wallace and then to tight end Tyler Warren. Both were covered. As a Notre Dame rusher closed in, he looked right and threw toward receiver Omari Evans. Instead of throwing it where only Evans could catch it, he threw it only where Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray could catch it. He did just that, and seven plays later, Jeter’s kick sailed through the uprights.

What was Allar trying to do on the play? His plan was to bury the pass. It did not go as planned.

“I was going through my progression, got to the back side, and I was trying to dirt it at Omari’s feet, but I should have just thrown it away,” Allar said. “I should have thrown it at Omari’s feet. Just didn’t execute what I was trying to do.”

Added Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki:

“Working through his progression, put it in there and give a guy an opportunity to play and it didn’t happen. So, my message is it’s not his fault. I get better for those guys and lots more separation and move on. We’ll be better.”

Penn State OC Andy Kotelnicki says to put the blame on him

One thing was clear in the Penn State locker room after the game: The loss should not be put squarely on Allar’s shoulders. And, that’s fair. As head coach James Franklin would later say, there are many reasons why the Lions lost. As for the interception in question, Lions’ offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said to put the blame on him.

“I mean, it stinks,” he said. “I got to be better for our guys and get them in a situation to separate a little bit more at the top and stuff like that. We’ve embraced playing to win. And so we have that situation, we get a good run to start that drive and hurry up and go tempo and end up turning it over, which ended up being costly, but that’s what you got to do. Play to win. We’ve been in that situation a bunch, where we’ve been able to drive the field, and get in field goal range, and have a chance to win the game, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

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