Heather Dinich explains why Big Ten team has the ‘best chance’ to win national title
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ESPN’s Heather Dinich is a big believer in Penn State.
During an appearance on ‘Get Up’ on Thursday morning, Dinich was asked a simple question: Which team has the best chance to win the National Championship?
Dinich could’ve picked Clemson, Ohio State or any number of SEC contenders, but she went with the Nittany Lions.
“I’m going to go with what I know on paper right now and that’s Penn State, which is loaded,” Dinich said. “We’ll start at quarterback with Drew Allar. I think he’s going to be a lot better this season. He’s got a secret weapon on his side in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, who was hired from Ohio State. You know why he’s a secret weapon? Because he scouted Drew Allar when he was with the Buckeyes and now came to Penn State and said, ‘this is what I saw from you, this is how you can be better.’
“And by the way, Drew Allar has something no on else has in terms of Texas, Ohio State, Oregon … Playoff experience.”
Allar has long been lauded for his top-end talent, but did struggle with consistency at times last season. Perhaps that changes in 2025 as he enters his third full season as a starting quarterback in college football.
Allar also helped Penn State get all the way to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff last season before bowing out to Notre Dame.
Penn State will open the 2025 season against Nevada on Aug. 30.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
