No. No. 3 Penn State could be without QB Drew Allar for a showdown with No. 4 Ohio State

Penn State coach James Franklin isn’t sure if starting quarterback Drew Allar will be ready to play when the third-ranked Nittany Lions host No. 4 Ohio State.

Allar suffered an apparent left knee injury late in the first half of Penn State’s 28-13 win over Wisconsin. He returned for the second half wearing a knee brace, but after a short, ineffective warm-up he handed the attack to Beau Pribula.

Allar, the strong-armed triggerman of Andy Kotelnicki’s dynamic offense, has completed 117 of 164 passes for 1,640 yards with 12 touchdowns and four interceptions this year. Since taking over the starting job at the start of the 2023 season, he has not missed a game.

“It’s too early to say at this point, but he’s played enough football and I think the decision will last until game time,” Franklin said.

Franklin said after the win over the Badgers that Allar told him he “couldn’t move well enough” to finish the game.

“Even at the end of the half, you could tell that even throwing was a challenge,” Franklin said.

Then the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Allar walked over and gave the 6-foot-2 Pribula a hug and wished him good luck.

The second-year dual threat kept the Nittany Lions moving. Pribula led a pair of touchdown drives, completing 11 of 13 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown on four rushes for eight yards.

If Pribula is called up to make his first start, it will be against the nation’s second-ranked defense in a game that should have huge conference championship and playoff implications.

Franklin said the Nittany Lions will also try to get third-string quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer more work alongside Pribula this week. Fellow freshman Jaxon Smolik is still working his way back from a preseason injury.

“The reality is we have to have both guys ready and you can have the discussion, all three guys ready,” Franklin said.