Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) scrambles against Oregon during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

Last weekend was the kind of loss that really hurts a legacy. That’s unfortunate because you can’t put all of Penn State’s offensive issues on quarterback Drew Allar.

To be clear, Allar has been “inconsistent,” as James Franklin put it. Everybody has on the offensive end, according to Franklin, and he’s correct.

The offensive line has had its moments where it hasn’t been dominant like the past, and that’s a concern.

The transfer wide receivers of Kyron Hudson, Trebor Pena, and Devonte Ross have shown flashes of brilliance, but the combined six catches for 64 yards between the trio against Oregon is not getting it done. Hudson contributed none of those catches, but he was targeted four times. That just isn’t good enough.

About the running backs: Kaytron Allen has been okay for the most part, but Nicholas Singleton has been a huge disappointment so far. Singleton is going into Saturday with 52 carries for 207 yards, an average of 3.8 yards per carry. Allen has over 100 rushing yards more than Singleton with six fewer carries.

It has to be so much better.

It’s clear that Allar cares. It was only two seasons ago that he was crying during post-game interviews in the Ohio Stadium media room. There were no tears last weekend, but it was clear that he was taking such a key game pretty hard.

“We all take it hard,” Franklin said. “I would probably be more concerned if it was the opposite and he didn’t take it so hard. I think we’re similar in a lot of ways.”

“I’m always very critical of myself,” Allar said. “The coaching staff and I are very honest in our self-reflection, no matter the outcome of the game. Our process is a process, and we will change that. Obviously, you have to learn a lot of stuff from this game.”

Yes, Allar deserves some of the blame. He hasn’t lived up to the expectations as a five-star recruit out of Ohio. The interception he threw to end the game against the Ducks can’t happen, either, and he knows it.

And there’s also a common link to all of these tough losses that seems to happen on at least an annual basis around State College. Players come and go, and so do assistants, but one person remains a constant in Franklin.

The 12th-year head coach said the team will not be pointing fingers or screaming or yelling at each other. That’s good, because plenty of fans are already doing it for the Nittany Lions.

Just make sure all of the blame game doesn’t go to Allar.

Andy Stine can be reached at astine@altoonamirror.com.