Penn State's Drew Allar will not return against Wisconsin after injury

MADISON, Wis. – Penn State quarterback Drew Allar's status for next weekend's showdown against fourth-ranked Ohio State is uncertain after he left Saturday's win at Wisconsin with a left knee injury.

Allar left the field late in the second quarter and walked cautiously with a trainer to the locker room before halftime in the No. 3 Nittany Lions' 28-13 victory over the Badgers.

Allar tried to make a play at the start of the second half. But after warming up, he told the coaching staff that he didn't think he could effectively play through the injury.

“The question was, 'Will he be mobile enough to give us a chance to control the offense?'” said Penn State coach James Franklin, who initially thought Allar would be able to play after halftime. “After he got out there and loosened up, Drew told me he couldn’t walk.

“I asked him to be very, very honest with me and he just didn't feel like he was moving well enough to go. And even after the half ended, throwing was a challenge.”

Allar ranked sixth nationally entering the weekend with a QBR of 86.8. Against the Badgers (5-3), he completed 14 of 18 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown.

However, sophomore Beau Pribula replaced Allar and shined. He was 11 of 13 for 98 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another 28 yards. Franklin called Pribula's relief performance “courageous” as the Nittany Lions (7-0) remained undefeated.

Pribula had just 31 career attempts before the game but played running quarterback in special packages this season. He said he was ready when Allar “tweaked” his knee.

“We weren’t sure before halftime whether Drew was going to come back or not,” Pribula said. “When I got the news, I was locked up.”

On the game's decisive possession, Pribula led the Lions on a 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive in which he completed all five passes for 47 yards and rushed for an additional 17 yards. Pribula finished the game with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Khalil Dinkins on third-and-goal in the fourth quarter, giving Penn State a 21-13 lead.

After the score, Allar walked onto the field to give Pribula a celebratory high-five.

“He was great in all the games,” Pribula said of Allar. “Support me, give me tips.”

Penn State's win sets up a matchup against the Buckeyes (6-1) next Saturday in State College that will have big implications for the Big Ten title and the College Football Playoff. The Lions have lost seven straight games to Ohio State.

Pribula said that regardless of who gets the next start at quarterback, Penn State will be focused and ready.

“It’s a huge week,” he said. “Everyone already agrees – we will get this win behind us pretty quickly. We know what’s at stake.”