Every college football playoff team wants to focus solely on winning a national title, but Penn State head coach James Franklin addressed a problem elsewhere in the sport.
The college football transfer portal is open, and the timing couldn’t be worse for coaches like Franklin, who have already seen a key backup player enter.
But Franklin defended his backup quarterback, Beau Pribula, who made the decision to enter the portal after starter Drew Allar already declared his intention to return to the Nittany Lions in 2025.
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Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula rushes Nov. 16, 2024, during the Purdue Boilermakers game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. (IMAGE)
“The overlapping CFB and transfer portal playoff schedules have forced me to make an impossible decision,” Pribula wrote on social media on Sunday.
“We had problems in college football and I can give you my word that Beau Pribula did not want to leave our program and did not want to leave our program until the end of the season,” Franklin said, via ESPN, on Monday. in defense of Pribula’s decision to enter the portal. “But the way the portal is and the timing of it and the way our team is playing, and when you play the quarterback position and there’s only one spot and those spots are filling up, it felt like “They would have put him in a no-win situation and I agree with them.”
Pribula spoke to Franklin about his decision before making it public.
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Now, because of the decision, true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, who has not thrown a pass, will be Penn State’s backup during the College Football Playoff, which begins for the Nittany Lions on Saturday against No. 11 SMU at Beaver Stadium.
“No. 1, I hate him, and the most important thing is Beau Pribula,” Franklin added. “I don’t think it’s best for the student-athlete, I don’t think it’s best for college football.”
Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Beau Pribula faces off against the Oregon Ducks on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (IMAGE)
Franklin added that Pribula has been a “phenomenal teammate” and has played a big role in helping his team reach the playoffs, despite being used sparingly this season.
However, Pribula’s speed is something the Nittany Lions have benefited from this season, as he is tied for second with six rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards (242). He also threw five touchdowns on 25 attempts for 275 yards this season.
Unfortunately, he’s not the only player who entered the portal despite his team’s success.
Former Texas Longhorns backup Maalik Murphy entered the portal last season despite his team’s upcoming game against the Washington Huskies for a spot in the national championship.
He would eventually transfer to Duke, where he began the 2024 season. Murphy is once again in the portal looking for his next team.
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin reacts after a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks in the 2024 Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Images by Robert Goddin-Imagn)
And the Nittany Lions’ opponent on Saturday also saw Mustangs backup quarterback Preston Stone enter the portal.
This is the first year of the expanded playoffs, but the transfer portal, an area of controversy throughout college football depending on who you’re talking to, remains an even bigger issue with more teams preparing for a hopeful national title run. .
