James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lions fell 30–24 to the Oregon Ducks on Saturday night. QB Drew Allar is under fire after making a crucial mistake that crushed a promising comeback against the second-ranked team. This has sparked renewed criticism of Franklin’s QB decisions.
Some, including Colin Cowherd, now question whether Penn State made a major misstep by not holding on to former backup Beau Pribula.
James Franklin’s Beau Pribula Blunder Haunts as Colin Cowherd Slams Drew Allar
This season, Penn State was expected to be stronger, smarter, and finally ready to leap from perennial contender to national powerhouse.
Instead, Saturday night’s 30–24 double-overtime loss to No. 2 Oregon told a familiar story. Penn State once again proved to be college football’s most consistent nearly-there team, good enough to challenge the elite, but not quite good enough to beat them.
This time, much of the blame falls on the offense. A unit hyped in the offseason as one of the best under Franklin crumbled under pressure. The line allowed eight tackles for loss and two sacks, with multiple blown assignments that disrupted the timing of Penn State’s passing game and left QB Allar scrambling, literally and figuratively.
Allar himself continues to puzzle fans and analysts alike. For three quarters, he struggled with accuracy and rhythm. But then, almost out of nowhere, he led two late touchdown drives that nearly forced an upset, showing flashes of promise.
Yet, it all unraveled in the second overtime, when Allar threw a game-sealing interception. This ended the comeback and again confirmed the doubts that linger around this offense.
In the unforgiving CFB world, one mistake is all it takes to rewrite the narrative, and that interception did just that. Fans flooded social media, frustrated not just by the loss but by what they see as a larger issue: Penn State’s inability to produce on offense against elite teams.
Even outspoken analyst Cowherd questioned Allar’s instincts on his show. He suggested he lacks the natural feel required to succeed at the highest level.
“Two things that we don’t talk enough about are toughness and just kind of instincts. And he’s tough: he will lower [his] shoulder… He is not just an instinctive player,” Cowherd said.
And now, another twist: the resurgence of Pribula. Once Franklin’s backup QB, Pribula, transferred to Missouri and is thriving. He has completed 75.9% of his passes for 1,203 yards, nine touchdowns, and just three interceptions, while adding 121 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. Many Penn State fans wonder what would have happened if Pribula were their QB1.
In contrast, Allar’s numbers tell a more underwhelming story: 62.8% completion rate, 763 passing yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions. It is a solid but unspectacular stat line for a quarterback expected to lead a playoff-caliber team.
With the season slipping away, Franklin’s decision to keep Allar and let Pribula walk is being questioned. Some fans argue that Penn State would have been better off had Allar declared for the NFL Draft last year, allowing the program to retain Pribula.
The choice to back Allar may be the misstep that haunts Franklin and the Nittany Lions for the rest of the season.
