Beau Pribula, the redshirt sophomore backup quarterback for Penn State, has decided to enter the transfer portal, ruling him out of the upcoming College Football Playoff matchup against SMU. The Nittany Lions, seeded sixth with an 11-2 record, will face the 11th-seeded Mustangs (11-2) in the opening round on Saturday without Pribula in the mix.
In an Instagram post on Sunday night, Pribula expressed that playing for Penn State had always been a dream for him as a Pennsylvania native. However, after discussions with his family and unidentified coaches from the Nittany Lions, he made the difficult decision to leave the program.
Pribula highlighted the challenges faced by student-athletes due to the current NCAA postseason model. He mentioned that the overlapping timelines of the College Football Playoff and the transfer portal had put him in an untenable position, ultimately leading to his departure from Penn State.
Despite serving as a backup, Pribula has been a consistent presence in all 13 games for Penn State this season, often utilized for his mobility. He has rushed for 242 yards and four touchdowns while also completing 26 of 35 passes for 275 yards, with five touchdowns and one interception.
The transfer portal opened shortly after the announcement of the 12-team College Football Playoff field, prompting Pribula's decision to explore other opportunities.
As Penn State prepares to face SMU in the playoff, they will do so without Pribula's contributions on the field. His departure marks a significant change for the Nittany Lions as they aim to advance in the postseason.
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