ESPN’s Greg McElroy epically jinxes Penn State QB Drew Allar

There are announcer jinxes and then there are announcer jinxes.

ESPN CFB analyst Greg McElroy could have taken Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to the moon and back Thursday night just before he threw an absolutely soul-crushing interception that ended up costing them the CFP semifinal against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Penn State and Notre Dame played an instant classic Thursday night, trading blows all night until tied 24-24 with four and a half minutes left. Allar was 12-22 with 143 yards on the night so far. The Nittany Lions had the ball on their own 15-yard line with 47 seconds left when ESPN’s Sean McDonough asked McElroy if Penn State should be aggressive and play for a game-winning field goal or stay conservative and take the game to overtime. .

McElroy took one look at Allar and said it was time to be aggressive.

“I’m aggressive… For the most part, Drew Allar has made good decisions all season, his entire career. He has 50+ touchdowns, only 9 career interceptions. It’s not likely that a guy will endanger the ball. I trust him… I wanted to strengthen him…” – Greg McElroy pic.twitter.com/s9Uet8wnJW

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) 10 January 2025

“I’m aggressive,” McElroy said. “For the most part, all season, all his career, Drew Allar has made good decisions. He has 50+ touchdowns, just 9 career interceptions. A guy is not likely to endanger the ball. I trust him, I think he can do it. And I would empower him in this situation to drive down the field after a game-winning field goal.”

Two plays later, Allar made his first pass attempt of the drive, an ill-judged pass over the middle of the field that was intercepted.

Two plays later, Drew Allar threw an interception. pic.twitter.com/Behf8uHRgj

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) 10 January 2025

The turnover was as appalling as it looked. Notre Dame took over with a short field and three timeouts, which they used to set up a game-winning 41-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter for the 27-24 victory.

Mitch Jeter lays down what would serve as the game-winning kick to send Notre Dame to the CFP National Championship Game.

Sean McDonough with the call to ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OTKkEpH7i8

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) 10 January 2025

The lesson, as always, is never to talk about anything a player has done before this very moment, especially when the game is on the line. Announcer jinx remains undefeated.