Penn State QB Drew Allar breaks down the ‘huge challenge’ of facing Michigan’s No. 1 pass defense

Drew Allar is coming off what was arguably his best game as a Penn State player. At Maryland, the young quarterback shone. He threw four touchdown passes, completed 73.5% of his passes, squeezed a few through tight windows, and did not turn the ball over. He appeared poised and confident, exactly the type of player Penn State fans hoped for when he signed as a five-star recruit.

Allar said it was nice to get the passing game “rolling” in Penn State’s 51-15 win at Maryland, and he wants to “keep building off that confidence” this week. But Allar also knows the test that awaits him and his teammates when Michigan visits Beaver Stadium on Saturday.

For all the off-field distractions, Michigan has been dominant. The Wolverines are undefeated with a 366-60 combined points margin. A big reason why is their unflappable secondary.

Michigan ranks No. 1 in the FBS in passing yards allowed per game (141.3) and is tied for the fewest passing touchdowns allowed (four). The Wolverines have the most interceptions (12) of any Big Ten team and rank fifth nationally in completion percentage (52.7%).

Allar, speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, said he has “a tremendous amount of respect” for Michigan’s defense after watching the Wolverines work on film.

“They’re a sound group,” Allar said. “They don’t make a lot of mistakes. There’s not a lot of busts in the secondary where they’re leaving guys open. So it’s definitely going to be a challenge. But it’s something we look forward to. … It’s going to be a fun one.”

Quarterbacks who have faced Michigan this year would hardly describe the experience as “fun.” The Wolverines have allowed only 46 completions of 10 yards or more, fewest in the FBS.

But Allar is a competitor who cherishes the opportunity to challenge himself. It’s part of the reason why he came to Penn State in the first place, to play in games like this.

This will be the second high-profile game of Allar’s young career. The first didn’t go as he had hoped, losing at Ohio State, 20-12. That defeat was defined by the offense’s inability to get anything going against the Buckeyes. Allar and the passing game, specifically, were out of sync and out of sorts as the sophomore completed only 18 of 42 passes for 191 yards.

The offense didn’t look much better the following week against Indiana. That is, until Allar rebounded from a fourth-quarter interception to throw a game-winning 57-yard touchdown.

Since his first career interception, Allar has been looser in the pocket, like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. Maybe it was a product of Maryland’s middle-of-the-road pass defense. But Allar was in rhythm in College Park, picking apart the Terrapins with every attempt.

Allar understands that he won’t have as many easy access throws against Michigan. The Wolverines aren’t going to give the sophomore as many one-on-one matchups. They’re going to make him earn every completion he logs in the stat sheet on Saturday.

“They’re consistent,” Allar said of Michigan’s secondary. “They have a lot of talent. They’re pretty rangy, have long arms. They’re able to be physical with receivers, but they also do a good job of staying in front of them. They don’t let many guys get past them, you know, free runners. And they’re really good tacklers, too. … It’s going to be a huge challenge for us this week. They’re going to be where they’re supposed to be.”

That puts even more pressure on Allar and Penn State’s passing game to capitalize on every opening they get.

“We’re going to have to make some plays in the passing game. I don’t think there is any doubt about it,” James Franklin said on Monday. “We’re going to have to be as balanced as we possibly can with the run and pass and stay on schedule. But there will be times and opportunities where we will have to take our shots.”

“We have to do everything we can in our power to take every opportunity that we have,” Allar said, “and maximize it.”

Whether Allar can do that could determine the outcome of the game — and, subsequently, whether or not Penn State puts itself back in the College Football Playoff race.