Penn State football backup QB Beau Pribula commits to Missouri in transfer portal

Penn State football backup quarterback Beau Pribula is off to the Southeastern Conference.

The dual-threat quarterback, who was the No. 12 ranked quarterback in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, committed to Missouri late Sunday night. It was first reported by On3's Pete Nakos.

He chose the Tigers and Eliah Drinkwitz after making visits also to programs like Iowa, UCF and Ole Miss according to several reports. He canceled his visit to Indiana on Saturday, a day after the Hoosiers lost in the CFP first-round to Notre Dame.

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Pribula's decision to enter the transfer on Dec. 15 came as bit of surprise considering the Nittany Lions were less than a week away from playing in the College Football Playoff against SMU and he was used more than most backup quarterback's in Penn State's offense.

But the 6-foot-2 quarterback cited the time of his transfer "an impossible decision," as the transfer portal opened up on Dec. 8 and closes on Dec. 28 — an overlapping part of the college football schedule with the CFP. It also came a day before Penn State starting quarterback Drew Allar announced he would be returning for his final season.

"Growing up in Pennsylvania, it has always been a dream of mine to play football for Penn State. Wearing the blue & white these last 3 years has brought me some of the greatest moments of my life," Pribula wrote in a post on Sunday. "The current NCAA post-season model creates a challenge for student-athletes. The overlapping CFP playoff & transfer portal timeline has forced me into an impossible decision."

Penn State coach James Franklin called it a "no-win situation" for Pribula, who came in and led Penn State to a come-from-behind win against Wisconsin on Oct. 26 after Allar went down with an injury. Pribula threw for 275 yards and five touchdowns this season, while adding 242 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.

Pribula immediately provides an another option for Missouri at starting quarterback heading into the 2025 season, as starting quarterback Brady Cook is set to graduate after five seasons in Columbia with the Tigers. He will likely go into training camp fighting for the starting quarterback position with Drew Pyne.

Pribula is the 12th transfer to sign with Missouri this offseason, a transfer class that also includes West Virginia linebacker Josiah Trotter.

Beau Pribula 247Sports

• As transfer: Three-star recruit | No. 12 ranked quarterback

• As prospect: Three-star recruit | No. 29 ranked quarterback

Pribula was listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 12 ranked quarterback in the transfer portal, according to his 247Sports profile page. He received similar marks coming out of high school, as he was a three-star recruit and the No. 29 ranked quarterback in 247Sports' Composite rankings.

Beau Pribula stats

Here's a breakdown of Pribula's stats this season at Penn State:

• 2023: 11 of 21 (52.4%) passing for 149 yards and four touchdowns; 56 carries for 329 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns

• 2024: 26 of 35 (74.3%) passing for 275 yards with five touchdowns, one interception and a sack; 38 carries for 242 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Penn State backup QB Beau Pribula transfers to Missouri