Drew Allar's Orange Bowl Performance: A Heartbreaking End to a Historic Season
Penn State's 2024-25 season was filled with highs, but it ended in heartache with a narrow loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. For quarterback Drew Allar, this game marked an unsteady conclusion to what was an inconsistent postseason. His late-game interception, which set up Notre Dame’s game-winning field goal, haunted not just him but the entire Nittany Lions program as they came so close to achieving their ultimate goal.
The Orange Bowl was a game of inches for Penn State. Allar, despite being under pressure throughout the match, led his team to a 24-17 lead in the fourth quarter. But with just 33 seconds remaining, in a tied game at 24, Allar made a costly mistake. Attempting to force a pass to Omari Evans, the ball sailed and landed in the hands of Notre Dame's cornerback Christian Gray. It was an interception that shifted the momentum and eventually gave Notre Dame the chance to kick the decisive field goal.
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The pain of that moment was evident on Allar’s face as he explained his mistake, admitting he should have thrown the ball away instead of forcing it. In many ways, this interception encapsulated Penn State’s struggles on offense throughout the game. The Nittany Lions’ passing game, especially their attempts to connect with wide receivers, failed to gain traction. In fact, the entire game, they didn’t complete a single pass to a wideout. It was a glaring issue that had plagued them all season, and in the biggest game of the year, it reared its ugly head again. The lack of separation from the receivers and Notre Dame’s tight man coverage made it difficult for Allar to establish a rhythm with his wideouts.
Despite Allar’s solid performances in other games, the postseason was a struggle for him. His throwing issues were compounded by a lack of reliable weapons on the outside. Penn State's offense has often been criticized for its lack of explosive wide receivers, and it showed against Notre Dame. With two interceptions that were wiped away due to penalties, Allar's performance became a symbol of Penn State's inability to break through in critical moments.
This loss stung for Allar, who knew that a few plays here and there could have made all the difference. Penn State had opportunities to seize control, but the mistakes piled up. The defense, despite playing admirably in many situations, couldn’t handle Notre Dame’s quick tempo in the second half, leading to crucial scores. Special teams, though reliable in most areas, lacked a game-changing play that could have swung momentum.
As the Nittany Lions walked off the field, the reality set in that another season would end with questions about what could have been. For head coach James Franklin and his staff, the loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl added another chapter to their ongoing struggle to beat top-tier opponents. Despite the close calls, the "what-ifs" continue to linger in the minds of Penn State fans. Drew Allar’s interception will remain a painful memory in a season that could have been so much more. The Nittany Lions were so close to achieving greatness, yet they came up just short once again, leaving fans wondering when, if ever, they'll finally get over the hump.
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