Penn State coach James Franklin expects quarterback Drew Allar to practice this week before Saturday’s game against Ohio State but he does not yet give the starting decision. In fact, Franklin said Monday he wouldn’t do it until noon Saturday.

“I think Drew played enough football that it would go until game time until we made that decision,” Franklin said Monday during his weekly news conference.

Allar was injured and did not play in the second half. Nittany Lions win 28-13 against Wisconsinthat raised Penn State’s record to 7-0 and set up a top-5 matchup with the Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. On Monday, Franklin wasn’t about to provide any indicators regarding his starting quarterback, especially considering how good backup Beau Pribula was in replacing Allar against the Buckeyes.

The redshirt sophomore completed 11 of 13 passes and led two touchdowns in the second half, generating what Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell called “problems” for his defense. Franklin said he plans to coach both quarterbacks this week, signaling to Ohio State coach Ryan Day that the Buckeys should prepare for either to start.

“(Allar has) played enough football for us to make the schedule go to the game, really,” Franklin said. “I think from a coaching standpoint, we’ll have to do it, no matter where we are on Tuesday, we’ll have to have those two guys representing Tuesday and Wednesday. But it’s too early to tell, but he’s got enough played football so I think this decision will make it to game time. But the reality is we’re going to have to have both guys ready, and you could even make the case that all three guys are ready (including the quarterback. -freshman guard Ethan Grunkemeyer), which is a challenge to accomplish in a game week.”

After Saturday’s game at Camp Randall StadiumPribula strengthened the hierarchy in the Penn State quarterback room. “I’m the backup quarterback. Drew went down. I needed to step aside. I just think I did my job.” Pribula told reporters. However, the dynamics of Penn State’s offense are changing with Pribula in charge of more-than-occasional plays, a reality that Franklin has acknowledged and even nurtured. Penn State will use that to its advantage this week, even if Allar starts against the Buckeyes.

“As a defense, it’s tough, because I think when you prepare for Drew and Beau will have his few plays that we sprinkle in per quarter, it’s tough,” Franklin said. “But when the game plan flips and Beau is there, it changes dramatically for the defense. It’s tough, and most people aren’t built like that, right? Your quarterbacks are all of the same type, and ours are very different in many ways.

James Franklin addresses two more key Penn State injuries

Two key Penn State starters left Saturday’s game against Wisconsin in addition to Allar: defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton and right tackle Anthony Donkoh. Franklin said Dennis-Sutton, a junior who has been a big part of Penn State’s defensive line for two seasons, is in a similar situation to Allar. Dennis-Sutton was injured in the first half, played one play in the second half and did not return.

“Dani will have the ability to play in this game,” Franklin said. “He’s played a lot of football, he’s super mature, he’s very intelligent, he’s thoughtful, he works hard, he’s been in the training room the last two days. Every time I go there he’s there, so it’s the same (like with Allar). We’ll go until the time of the match to see where we are with things.

Regarding Donkoh, who has been one of Penn State’s most effective run blockers, Franklin was less sure. Donkoh, a redshirt freshman, has started all seven games for the Nittany Lions this season. Fellow forward Nolan Rucci, a transfer from Wisconsin who played a season-high 49 snaps against his former team, would start if Donkoh can’t play.

“I don’t think Anthony is in the same category as those guys (Allar and Dennis-Sutton) in terms of the number of games he’s played,” Franklin said. “…We’ve already played a lot against Rucci anyway, but we’re going to need both of those guys (to be ready).”

Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson gives some advice

Penn State has had significant injury issues this season, losing starting safety KJ Winston and tight end Andrew Rappleyea early in the year and several players, including running back Nicholas Singleton for one game, due to in-season injuries. Sunday evening, Franklin received a message of encouragement from Cael Sanderson, Penn State wrestling coach on how Sanderson handled injury situations while leading the Nittany Lions to the NCAA title last season.

“We had the injury bug early on and then things stabilized again and then you play really good teams and it’s physical, these things are going to happen,” Franklin said. “I think we’ve been tested, I think we’ve proven that we can kind of overcome some of those things and I think we’ve proven that we have pretty good depth. But obviously when you play against the one of the best teams and one of the most talented teams in the country, you obviously want to be as healthy as possible.

No. 3 Penn State hosts No. 4 Ohio State Saturday at noon ET on FOX.

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