As teams compete for a national championship against 11 others, many college football players, including those in the College Football Playoff, are on the hunt for new schools.
The transfer portal opened last week, several days before the 12-team College Football Playoff, and the timing was met with skepticism.
Earlier this week, Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula said he was put in an “impossible” situation to enter the portal, following Drew Allar’s announcement to return next season, when the team has things more important things to focus on. Even head coach James Franklin said the quarterback was in a “no-win” situation.
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Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee looks on from the field during a stoppage in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. (Images by Amber Searls-Imagn)
Well, the head coach who will be facing Franklin in Rhett Lashlee went a step further and called the moment “terrible.”
“I feel really bad for our kids and kids all over the country,” the SMU head coach said Tuesday via ESPN. “There’s no other sport that has in-season free agency. It’s sad. It’s terrible. You hear the story about their backup quarterback saying, ‘I have no choice.’ That’s wrong. That’s unacceptable. That’s not right. “I shouldn’t have to make that decision.”
Head coach Rhett Lashlee, left, of the SMU Mustangs and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers speak before the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 7, 2024, in Charlotte, Carolina northern. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
PENN STATE’S JAMES FRANKLIN POINTS OUT BIG TRANSFER PORTAL PROBLEM AS PLAYER ENTER DESPITE UPCOMING CFP GAME
“The really easy thing is you don’t have a transfer portal in December. That’s the really easy answer and it solves all the problems,” Lashlee added. “Why would we put kids in a position where they have to decide, ‘Do I transfer or play in the playoffs? Do I transfer or play my bowl game?…” People are bombarding our roster, trying to choose. “There are people off our roster and we’re trying to focus on the playoffs. So yeah, it’s very easy: We don’t have a transfer portal in December.”
Lashlee, who advocated for NIL money and transfers, is in a similar situation with his backup quarterback in Preston Stone, admitting it’s a “juggling act” right now. Stone entered the portal last week, but will remain with the team throughout its playoff run.
Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee stands on the sideline during the Stanford Cardinal game at Stanford Stadium. (Images by Darren Yamashita-Imagn)
The Mustangs will head to Happy Valley for a noon contest on Saturday, with the winner facing third-seeded Boise State and Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty.
