College football, we have a problem

Once again, the college football calendar is called into question. What can be done to fix it?

Photo courtesy Nebraska Athletics

Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula announced his intent to enter the transfer portal Sunday, leaving the team before the Nittany Lions’ appearance in the College Football Playoff.

"The current NCAA postseason model creates a challenge for student-athletes. The overlapping CFB playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision," Pribula shared on social media.

On Monday, Penn State coach James Franklin supported Pribula and the decision he made. As Franklin put it, the backup quarterback “should not be put in this position.”

Yet, he was.

The transfer portal — open Dec. 9 through Dec. 28 — coincides with the first week of the new expanded College Football Playoff. The first games take place Friday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 21.

"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 about the situation. "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 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."