On Sunday night, just six days before Penn State is slated to host SMU in the first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff, backup quarterback Beau Pribula announced that he will be entering the transfer portal and departing the team. Pribula’s decision shocked the college football world as a new top quarterback prospect enters the market and the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions lose one of their most versatile offensive playmakers.
The transfer portal window opened on Monday, December 9, and runs through December 28, which forces players still in the CFP to make a difficult decision regarding their future. As teams get eliminated from the CFP, a five-day portal window will open for their roster, but especially at quarterback, most of the prime starting spots and NIL dollars will already be accounted for by then, especially in Pribula’s case if Penn State goes on a long CFP run.
If you think Beau Pribula is abandoning Penn State for the Playoffs, you are dead wrong. The Transfer Portal closes on December 28th and doesn’t open again until April 16th. Beau wants to go start somewhere, he needs Spring Ball there. Just wish him good luck, he gave it his all
— LandonTengwall (@landon_tengwall) December 16, 2024
Still, the college football world is only beginning to cope with the current state of the sport and its incongruent calendar, leading to some differences of opinion as the news broke.
No problem with Beau Pribula entering the transfer portal, but leaving the team before the playoff is lame. pic.twitter.com/LXgR1PRIF5
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 16, 2024
Pribula was an important part of Penn State’s offense, occasionally spelling Drew Allar for a few plays to add an element of athleticism to the team’s run game. The redshirt sophomore also bailed out the Nittany Lions after Allar suffered a first-half injury against Wisconsin, leading Penn State back from a 10-7 halftime deficit to a 28-13 win.
depth was always going to be important in the expanded playoff, but for a PSU team whose run game is at its best when the QB is involved (often including Pribula!) this is massive https://t.co/9DVgXCNzzM
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) December 16, 2024
While some opinions were about the impact on Penn State’s national title hopes, most view this decision as one of the many symptoms of the flawed NCAA calendar.
Beau Pribula’s departure from Penn State is a direct referendum on CFB’s calendar. This doesn’t make sense. You have to fix this for the long-term health of your sport.
— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) December 16, 2024
Don't hate on Pribula's decision to leave PSU. Yes he has a 5-day window to transfer after their season ends, but what if that's in January? Every team has their QB1 spot filled by then & he can't find a starting job (which he deserves)
— Producer Jesse (@JesseMyers88) December 16, 2024
Blame the NCAA. Just a terrible calendar.
A few years ago, Pribula would have been universally criticized by the media and the Penn State fan base, and while this decision has drawn some heat, most fans are in support of a player who had little path to a starting role in Happy Valley, especially if Allar returns for his senior season.
Beau Pribula is a true Nittany Lion. Nothing but love and respect for him.
— Mark (@TheYinzerLion) December 16, 2024
I truly hope he lights it up whenever he lands. Will absolutely be a top QB in the portal.
Without Pribula, Penn State will turn to true freshman four-star Ethan Grunkemeyer as QB2 in the CFP.