Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula’s decision to enter the transfer portal ahead of the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff run has sparked strong reactions, including a pointed critique from legendary coach Urban Meyer.
Pribula, who contributed over 500 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns this season, announced his departure this past weekend.
While the Nittany Lions prepare for their CFP opener against SMU, the absence of Pribula, a critical insurance option behind starter Drew Allar, has left many questioning the NCAA’s transfer portal timeline.
In a heartfelt statement, Pribula explained the difficult position he faced.
“The current NCAA postseason model creates a challenge for student-athletes,” Pribula wrote. “The overlapping CFB Playoff and transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision.
“After speaking at length with my family and coaches, it is with a heavy heart that I announce my intentions to enter the transfer portal and depart from the team to explore opportunities elsewhere.
“I want to thank the coaches, my teammates, the fanbase, and everyone else who has supported me along this journey. For the rest of my life, I stand proud as a Penn State graduate and letterman … WE ARE.”
On The Triple Option podcast with Rob Stone and Mark Ingram, Meyer expressed his dismay over Pribula’s situation.
“This kid’s a hell of a player man,” Meyer said. “He’s always wanted to be a Nittany Lion. This guy’s a good player. And this broke my heart. Could you imagine if Drew Allar goes down?”
Meyer acknowledged the tight timeline players face when entering the portal, which complicates their decisions.
“I’m sick because to see a player walk out and leave a team as they’re getting ready to do something possibly historic,” Meyer added. “Penn State’s got the best path to make a run at this thing.”
Penn State head coach James Franklin also defended Pribula, criticizing the broader issues surrounding college football’s transfer system.
“We got problems in college football, and I can give you my word Beau Pribula did not want to leave our program, and he did not want to leave our program until the end of the season,” Franklin said.
“But the way the portal is and the timing of it and the way our team is playing, and when you play the position of quarterback and there’s only one spot and those spots are filling up, he felt like he was put in a no-win situation, and I agree with him.
“No. 1, I hate for it, most importantly for Beau Pribula. I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the student-athlete, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of college football.”
As incredible as college football is, there are many things in the sport that are completely broken … This situation perfectly exposes one of them.
Needless to say, the transfer portal – and certainly the timing of it – needs to be fixed immediately, along with several other things.
What are your thoughts on the unfortunate Pribula situation???
