The stage is set for a marquee showdown on Saturday night when No. 3 Penn State hosts No. 6 Oregon at Beaver Stadium. For Drew Allar, this game represents not just another test in his senior season but a culmination of his growth, particularly under the influence of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles.
Since taking over at Penn State, Knowles has been praised for elevating the defense, but his presence has also quietly shaped Allar’s development as a quarterback. That influence came into sharp focus during an offseason exchange that Allar recently detailed.
How Jim Knowles Changed Drew Allar’s Perspective
During a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Allar was asked about his unique conversations with Knowles after the coach joined Penn State from defending national title winners Ohio State. Together, they studied tape from the Nittany Lions’ 20-13 loss to Ohio State last season, a game in which Knowles was still calling the Buckeyes’ defense.
Allar admitted it was a strange but invaluable experience. “Obviously, I don’t think you really experience it all when you’re in the position that we’re in. But, very fortunate to have Coach Knowles here. I think he’s made us better.”
For Allar, the opportunity to learn from someone who once game-planned against him provided rare insight. It wasn’t just about breaking down schemes; it was about seeing the game through a defensive lens and understanding how elite coordinators attack quarterbacks.
That process carried into daily practices, and by facing Knowles’ defense throughout spring and fall camp, Allar and Penn State’s offense have consistently gone up against one of the nation’s top units. The result is a sharper quarterback and a more battle-tested offense.
“Offensively, being able to learn from him and obviously he’s made our defense really good as well. And I think, it’s always been a great challenge for us going against his defense.
“And, that’s what, was exciting to me about when he joined our staff, is just being able to learn from a great defensive mind, because as a quarterback, I see the game more through the offensive lens than anything and being able to learn from, such a great coach that sees it maybe a different way and just picking up tells and just different things that they did against us that were successful and why they wanted to do things where it was really beneficial for not only me, but really our whole offense and our offensive staff.”
“Jim Knowles joining our staff was so exciting and being able to learn from him has been really beneficial..
He’s such a great defensive mind and he’s such a great coach” ~ @AllarDrew #PMSLive https://t.co/NyF0qsF7td pic.twitter.com/r5NSR7cOV1
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 26, 2025
When Penn State signed Knowles to a three-year deal reportedly worth $3.1 million annually, the expectation was defensive dominance. What was overlooked at the time was how much Knowles’s presence could accelerate Allar’s growth.
Allar’s progress isn’t limited to film sessions; his personal discipline has been equally telling. His morning ritual begins with an energy drink, more for caffeine than motivation, as he commits to finding every possible edge.
At 21, Allar is both old-school and modern. He rose late in high school, didn’t become a starter until late in his sophomore year, and learned patience by backing up Sean Clifford at Penn State. Unlike many stars in today’s transfer-heavy landscape, he’s stayed loyal to his program.
Through three games this season, Allar has thrown for 626 yards with four touchdowns and one interception, posting a 38.8 QBR, per ESPN. Those numbers will be put under the microscope against Oregon’s top-tier defense.
Saturday night represents more than just another Top 10 clash; it’s a referendum on Penn State’s ability to climb to “elite,” a hill James Franklin has struggled to summit with his 4-20 record against Top 10 teams. If Allar can apply the lessons correctly that he’s learned from Jim Knowles and carry that growth into a statement performance, Penn State could finally break through the barrier that has long defined the Franklin era.
