No. 3 Penn State is off to a 6-0 start for the second straight season and is well positioned to make a bid for the first playoff berth in program history. Here’s what we learned through the Nittany Lions’ first six games.

Penn State is a second-half team

Penn State has had a few This season is off to a slow start. The Nittany Lions trailed Bowling Green and USC at halftime and headed into halftime against Illinois. But Penn State definitely turned it around in the third quarter of this season, outscoring opponents 59-3 in the quarter. Defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s unit has given up just 146 yards in the third quarter for an average of 2.4 yards per play, buying the offense additional possessions.

This manifested itself last weekend against USC, where Penn State trailed 20-6 and appeared to be heading for its first loss of the season. Instead, the Nittany Lions offense marched down the field for two touchdown drives to tie the game at 20-20. Then Penn State’s defense forced USC to punt on the first two drives of the half.

The game against the Trojans also showed us Drew Allar’s clutch gene, which he hasn’t had to use much in his career. Penn State got the ball with 5:56 left and needed a touchdown to tie the game. Allar led the Nittany Lions on a clutch march with two fourth-down conversions that ultimately led to a Nick Singleton touchdown. Penn State won in overtime.

Playing from behind isn’t sustainable, but it’s encouraging to see how well Penn State came out of the locker room in the second half. It seems like halftime adjustments work wonders, and comebacks like last week’s show just how fiery this team is when they need to be.

RELATED: How Penn State’s schedule is shaping up for a second-half run

Penn State’s offense is more explosive under Kotelnicki

One of Penn State’s biggest storylines last year was the lack of explosive play on offense. With first-year offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki now calling the shots, the Nittany Lions have made tremendous progress on that front.

It starts with Allar, who continues to grow in his second season as the starting quarterback. Allar has increased his high completion percentage while maintaining his low interception numbers from last year until the USC game. He has also made progress in his ability to make big plays with his arms and legs.

Allar has gone from a passing average of 6.8 yards per attempt to 10.2 yards and is on pace for a career high in rushing yards. He throws fewer passes, only 24 attempts per game, but those completions were more productive and were complemented by a good running game.

The wide receivers have also benefited from the new offense. Tre Wallace and Liam Clifford have both posted career highs in receiving yards, while Omari Evans has emerged as one of the team’s top threats.

Of course, we can’t ignore the elephant in the room. Tight end Tyler Warren was incredible this season, with 40 catches for 513 yards. He is also used everywhere you can think of, from making direct snaps in the shotgun, under center, and even making the ball as center. If one player’s draft stock has soared this season, it’s Warren.

On the ground, Singleton and Kaytron Allen have remained reliable as Penn State’s one-two punch at running back. And the offensive line, which has produced three new starters, looks solid overall.

RELATED: Undefeated Penn State brings ‘good vibes’ into farewell

Penn State’s defense is not as dynamic, but it is solid

Defensive coordinator Tom Allen had difficult shoes to fill when he took the Penn State job. Former coordinator Manny Diaz, now the head coach at Duke, fielded one of the best units in the country last year.

In 2023, Penn State collected 24 takeaways and 49 sacks, the latter leading the nation and setting a program record. The Nittany Lions also led the nation in allowing just 75.5 rushing yards per game.

Based on these gaudy numbers, Allen’s defense hasn’t been all that dynamic in 2024. Penn State has forced just eight takeaways and 14 sacks, putting it at about 17 takeaways and 30 sacks this season. In terms of yardage, the Nittany Lions are giving up 262.5 yards per game this year and allowing fewer passing yards per game than they did in the 2023 season. That’s just to say that Allen’s defense is still playing well, just not in the same areas as Diaz’s defense.

Abdul Carter’s move to defensive end has worked out well, with Carter totaling four sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. With Dani Dennis-Sutton on the other end and Zane Durant in the middle, Penn State’s defensive line was stellar.

At linebacker, Tony Rojas and Kobe King have been good starters, but Allen said, “We need more guys to step up, more guys to make plays, more guys we can rotate in there and play at a high level. ” Those guys include Dom DeLuca, Tyler Elsdon and Ta’Mere Robinson, who have played quite a few snaps at linebacker.

After losing its top three cornerbacks, Penn State’s secondary has a new look, led by transfer corners AJ Harris and Jalen Kimber. That duo has played well so far this season, and they are complemented by young players Cam Miller, Elliot Washington II and Zion Tracy who continue to develop.

On the safety front, Jaylen Reed and Zakee Wheatley have made great strides. Reed has flown around the field as one of Penn State’s top tacklers, leading the team with 39 total. Wheatley stepped in as a starter due to KJ Winston’s injury and looked solid as well. Overall, the new starters in the secondary have held their own.

More Penn State football

Meet the Penn State fans who paid $1,800 to run onto the field with the USC Trojans

Penn State will receive a $5 million donation for Beaver Stadium renovations

The highs and lows of Penn State’s 6-0 start

Sam Woloson has covered Penn State athletics for the past three years and is currently editor-in-chief of The Daily Collegian. His work has also appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Huntingdon Daily News and Rivals. Follow him on X @sam_woloson