Less than a week after Penn State's College Football Playoff run came to a screeching halt, quarterback Drew Allard will officially return to the Nittany Lions for a fourth season, according to multiple reports. It has been officially decided.
Aller, who passed for just 135 yards and threw a costly interception in Penn State's loss to Notre Dame in Friday's semifinals, initially said he intended to rejoin the coaching staff in December. According to ESPN at the timeBut in a separate report on Friday, the outlet added that Aller: “It remains on the scout's radar.” Just in case he changed his mind – he still had a chance to change direction.
Had he chosen to save his name for the 2025 NFL Draft, Aller likely would have been one of the best quarterbacks behind Shedur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Jalen Milroe, but instead. He will be part of the 2026 group. Includes Arch Manning and Carson Beck.
Aller entered Penn State as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 3 overall prospect in the Class of 2022. After spending his freshman season as a backup to Sean Clifford, he took over as the starter last season, tossing for 25 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions.
He then threw for 2,668 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions during the 2024 regular season, helping Penn State beat SMU and Boise State by a combined 45 points to start the CFP.
But with a spot in the title game on the line, Aller struggled against the Fighting Irish, making his worst throw with 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter, tying the game and setting up Notre Dame's victory. . field goal.
“We weren't good enough because we didn't win the game, plain and simple,” Coach Aller told reporters after the Notre Dame loss. “I’m going to learn from it and do everything I can to get better and grow from it.”
And after Monday, he will spend another year at Penn State with a chance to turn things around and secure a new spot in the expansion playoffs.
