What Drew Allar's Comments Really Say About Oregon Ducks Defense

The game may be over at Beaver Stadium against the No. 2 Oregon Ducks and No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions, but the discourse surrounding Oregon's nail-biting 30-24 double overtime win will echo in discussions surrounding the Ducks for at least the rest of the 2025 season.

One of those moments sure to be frozen in the heads of college football fans is defensive back Dillon Thieneman's double overtime pick off of Penn State's Drew Allar, sealing the deal for the Ducks shortly after a botched two-point conversion opened the door for a potential Penn State comeback.

After the game, Allar reflected on the moment his second interception of the season soared into the gloves of Thieneman.

"I tried to get it over the guy’s head, and he jumped up and caught the ball," Allar said, staring straight ahead.

Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) reacts after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images | James Lang-Imagn Images

During the same postgame press conference, Allar took responsibility for the Nittany Lions not sticking through their second half comeback for the win.

"I mean, what went wrong is we didn't win the game," Allar said. "What went right? We made a comeback, but obviously we just gotta, we just gotta take care of the ball at the end of the game."

"Yeah, I mean I don't prepare all week to come out and lose the game," Allar continued. "So, obviously it hurts. We had our opportunities. I think that's kind of the, unfortunately, the bright side of it, is we had opportunities obviously at the end to come back and win the game if we go down and score and make the two point conversion. But I mean that's the way it shakes out."

Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) is tackled by Oregon Ducks linebacker Blake Purchase (9) during the fourth quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Allar & Lions Drew Up a Comeback

Allar is right, Penn State drew up several opportunities that helped crack a tired Oregon defense, especially in the fourth quarter.

Though Allar continued his struggles with accuracy, ending the first half with three of four drives resulting in punts and 12 total passes at 50 percent accuracy for 45 yards, the Nittany Lions' rally in the second half led by an improvement in Allar's execution is something the Ducks can take notes from for future ranked games like their matchup against No. 8 Indiana after the bye week.

Allar's first pass of the second half started with his only deep ball completion for 16 yards up the middle to tight end Kahlil Dinkins for a first down, Allar's third passing first down thus far in the game.

Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) throws during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The X's and O's of Making it to Double OT

After that pass, Allar found success in passing short in the middle and right targets peppered in with much more of the Penn State starter using his legs for quarterback scrambles and keepers. Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen also saw a majority of ground game opportunities outside of Allar. In fact, Allar put in 42 yards off nine opportunities during the game, most of which came from the third and mostly fourth quarters.

Allar consistently targeting the right side of the field is also not coincidental as both freshmen defensive backs Ify Obidegwu and Kingston Lopa often sat in the backfield on the right. 12 of Allar's 25 total game passes found a home on the right side of the field.

Mix all that with Allar's chemistry with wide receiver Devonte Ross in the red zone spells Penn State's comeback leading into overtime with two fourth quarter touchdowns.

Sep 27, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) runs for a gain during the fourth quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images | Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

MORE: First Look At Oregon's Glow-In-Dark Uniforms At Penn State Doesn't Disappoint

MORE: Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore Sheds Tears With Will Stein After Penn State Win

MORE: Penn State Coach James Franklin Addresses Overturned Fumble Call vs. Oregon Ducks

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning watches over his team as the Oregon Ducks face the Penn State Nittany Lions on Sept. 27, 2025, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Thieneman's Catch Was a Smart Design

Look at Dillon Thieneman as the ball is snapped on his crucial interception.
Peek-a-boo! pic.twitter.com/3gMvNGyWQ9
— Andrew Nemec (@AndrewNemec) September 28, 2025

Reviewing the film of Thieneman's catch, fans can see Oregon's defense was doubled up in preparation for the pass with a 4-2-5 defense. Thieneman, who was mirroring wide receiver Trebor Pena on the lineup, acted as a secondary check for linebacker Jerry Mixon. Mixon was set in the middle (potentially playing contain) in case the Penn State play went past the line of scrimmage.

When Thieneman and Mixon read the pass to the right from Allar (what he had been hitting all night), both Ducks put themselves between the hashmarks to grab the pass to tight end Luke Reynolds, who was also matched up with an eager defensive back Aaron Flowers that had Reynolds covered.

Though Mixon had his back to Allar as the pass arc fell into Thieneman's gloves, both Ducks were there in theory to make sure at least one Duck came up with that ball.

In the end, Oregon read Allar's strengths in his favoritism to the right, and matched the Lions with a counter to Allar's flaw this season: his inaccuracy with pressure in the pocket and double coverage downfield for off kilter passes.

Sep 27, 2025; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second quarter at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Mendoza Also Results to the Run In a Hoozier Hiccup

When looking at Oregon's future opponents, Allar's comeback in the second half could spell similar for another ranked quarterback. Indiana's Fernando Mendoza also seems to favor keeping the ball in his hands when the passing game subsides.

Looking at when Mendoza's accuracy in the passing game is at it's lowest percentage, which is against Old Dominion (58.1 percent completion rate, 6 carries for 33 yards), Kennesaw State (72 percent completion rating, 3 carries for 20 yards), and Iowa (56.5 percent completion rating, 8 carries for 26 yards) the quarterback results to keeping the ball.

Penn State's comeback in the second half, and the Ducks figuring out how to counter Allar, is a great primer to show Oregon's defense what they can do against a more skilled offense for future games.