Penn State's Drew Allar (knee) sits out 2nd half vs. Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. -- Penn State quarterback Drew Allar's status for next weekend's showdown against fourth-ranked Ohio Stateis up in the air after he exited Saturday's win at Wisconsinwith a left knee injury.

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

Allar tried to play to begin the second half. But after warming up, he told the coaching staff that he didn't think he could be effective playing through the injury.

"It was, 'Is he going to be mobile enough to give us a chance to run the offense?'" said Penn State coach James Franklin, who initially thought Allar was going to be able to play coming out of halftime. "After he got out there and got loosened up, Drew told me he couldn't go.

"I asked him to be very, very honest with me, and he just didn't feel like he was going to be able to move well enough to go. And even after the end of the half there, throwing was challenging."

Allar came into the weekend ranked sixth nationally 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 Pribulareplaced 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 a "gutsy" one, as the Nittany Lions (7-0) remained undefeated.

Pribula had only 31 career attempts coming into the game but had played in special packages as a running quarterback this season. He said he was ready when Allar "tweaked" his knee.

"We weren't sure going into halftime if Drew was going to come back or not," Pribula said. "When I got the word, I was locked in."

On the defining possession of the game, Pribula led the Lions on a 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive, during which he completed all five of his passes for 47 yards and rushed for another 17 yards. Pribula finished it 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 out onto the field to give Pribula a celebratory high-five.

"He was a great all game," Pribula said of Allar. "Supporting me, giving me tips."

Penn State's victory set up a clash in State College against the Buckeyes (6-1) next Saturday that will hold major implications for the Big Ten title and the College Football Playoff. The Lions have dropped 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.

"This is a huge week," he said. "Everybody's already -- we're going to put this win behind us pretty fast. We know the stakes."