With Allar out for season and Grunkemeyer struggling, Penn State’s QB crisis deepens
Penn State’s season has spiraled from playoff hopes to collapse. After four straight losses and mounting quarterback injuries, the post-Franklin era offers no quick fix.
Penn State’s brutal October continues, and this time, it feels like rock bottom. Penn State’s season began with high expectations. Starting 2025 ranked No. 2 in the AP Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Lions’ season quickly unraveled. Four straight losses to beatable opponents have turned what was once a promising season into one of the most dramatic collapses in recent memory. As the offense continues to struggle with injuries and inefficiency, Saturday’s loss to Iowa only reinforced that firing James Franklin wasn’t enough to spark a turnaround. With limited quarterback depth and fading confidence, the Lions now face an uphill battle to salvage what’s left of a disappointing season.
Under interim HC Terry Smith, Penn State displays the same problems
While James Franklin’s firing has dominated headlines, the stories mask a deeper issue at the program: without a strong presence under center, the Lions’ impressive run game isn’t enough to carry the load. One week after firing Franklin, the Nittany Lions looked for a reset under interim coach Terry Smith but fell 25–24 to Iowa. The loss, their fourth straight, showed the same issues that doomed Franklin’s tenure: inconsistency, turnovers, and no clear offensive identity.
The unraveling began even before senior QB Drew Allar was ruled out with a season-ending ankle injury against Northwestern. Once viewed as a future first-round NFL pick, Allar’s numbers failed to stand out this season. Finishing with 1,100 yards passing, eight TDs, and three interceptions, Allar failed to live up to the lofty expectations he carried into the 2025 season.
Although running back Kaytron Allen carried 28 times for 145 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, Penn State’s offense was one-dimensional. Without Allar’s arm, the Lions managed only 93 passing yards and 3.6 yards per play.
Missing standout guard Vega Ioane, the Lions’ O-line allowed steady pressure throughout the game, causing backup QB Ethan Grunkemeyer to play erratically. The freshman QB had a disappointing first start against Iowa, passing for a measly 93 yards while throwing two game-defining interceptions. His lackluster play leaves Penn State even worse off than they were under Allar.
Despite the loss, Smith showed poise in his postgame press conference. “We gave everything we had,” Smith said. “There was no one that didn’t give great effort. We just have to execute.”
That effort simply wasn’t enough. Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski exposed the defense, rushing for 130 yards and two scores, including a 67-yard sprint that set up the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes. The loss dropped Penn State to 3-4 overall and 0-4 in Big Ten play.
Now, Smith will have to do more than salvage the 2025 season: he’s tasked with stabilizing a locker room and finding answers at the most important position on the field. The problems Franklin left behind—limited quarterback depth, an unsteady line, and a predictable scheme—were on full display at Kinnick Stadium and will likely continue throughout the rest of the 2025 season.
Smith said the group will “clean it up” and finish stronger. But as October winds down, it’s clear that Penn State’s quarterback troubles are far from over.
Penn State Nittany Lions News
Dan Patrick didn’t hold back when reacting to Penn State’s decision to fire head coach James Franklin
Dan Patrick on the Dan Patrick Show reacting to the news that the Penn State Nittany Lions fired head coach James Franklin
