James franklin is really out here acting like a victim, and it’s not sitting well with college football fans. We’re talking about Beau Pribula, Penn State’s backup QB, who just dipped into the transfer portal days before the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff game against SMU. Yep, you heard that right. Just days before what could’ve been a historic run, Pribula’s got to bounce because starter Drew Allar is coming back for the 2025 season, leaving Pribula with zero shot at the top spot and no future at PSU.

Look, Pribula had zero plans to leave Penn State before the playoffs. He was all in for that championship run, and truth be told, the kid dreamed of being the QB at PSU. But, of course, that was before the NCAA threw a wrench in everything with their diabolical timings. The transfer portal closes at the end of December, and if we being honest, there’s only one spot for a QB at every school. If you ain’t making a move now, you’re getting left behind, and that’s exactly what happened to Beau. So yeah, he had to get out before he found himself out in the cold, with no options and no future.

Low-key, that’s absurd. It’s not like Penn State gonna win the national championship. Still, you gotta feel bad for the kid. Not gonna lie, Pribula was put into a really tough spot. He’s literally wanted to be there at Happy Valley until the end of the season.

James Franklin, being the guy who knows the deal, decided to go on the defensive. He threw his hands up, talking about how the system (NCAA) is so messed up, how the portal timing is “rigid,” and how he’s “concerned for college football” now that it’s broken and messing up kids’ futures. Franklin says Beau had no intention of leaving until after the season. “But when you play quarterback, and there’s only one spot, those spots are filling up fast. Beau felt like he was in a no-win situation.” Look, if we being real here, the man’s low-key right. He’s onto something. The NCAA should be there to protect the players, and not to leave them hang dry. But the fans ain’t buying it at all.

The college football fans call out James Franklin for hypocrisy amidst Beau Pribula saga

Now, here’s where it gets spicy. On Dec. 17, Rivals.com hit Instagram with a post about the Beau Pribula situation. And it didn’t exactly go how Franklin probably imagined. Instead of rallying the fans and getting sympathy, the post turned into an all-out roasting session. Fans flooded the comments, calling Franklin out for straight-up hypocrisy. Alright, here we go.

One fan started with, “You’re signing players from other teams and agreeing to crazy NIL deals, but now you’re acting all concerned?” This fan? He’s on the money. Franklin’s out here making banks, signing players to wild NIL contracts, but as soon as his own guy wants to look out for his future, Franklin pulls the “poor me” card. Nah, bro, that ain’t it. You’re playing the game when it benefits you, but now that it’s affecting your squad, suddenly you’re concerned about the kids?

Then, “Biggest crybaby in NCAA football.” One fan straight-up called him the biggest crybaby in the sport, and honestly, it’s hard to argue. Franklin’s been complaining non-stop about the system. Yes, the system’s low-key messed, but you ain’t any saint, the fans said.

One fan went off. “If the backup QB was paid enough, this wouldn’t even be a problem.” Ah, the truth bomb. If Penn State’s boosters actually threw some serious cash at Pribula, he’d probably be content sitting on that bench, backing up Allar. But nah, the boosters are slacking, and now the kid’s got to make moves to secure his NIL bag and play ball.

Another fan bought bazooka words calling out how colleges and systems benefitted from the kids: “I am for NIL I am for the transfer portal and I am for these kids doing is best for them. Unfortunately they need to hit the transfer portal before the next semester begins. You all act like dudes were not getting paid under the table and college sports exploited these guys for decades. Now you are mad when kids decide to go in a direction,” This fan spits facts. College football’s been exploiting these kids for decades, paying them under the table and turning them into money-making machines.

Another fan “Were you equally concerned when head coaches leave for new jobs before bowl games?” Now here’s the real kicker. Coaches dip out of programs all the time before big games, and no one bats an eye. These coaches get paid a ridiculous amount of money to leave their teams hanging just before the bowl game—that’s when it’s really messed up. Double standard, if you ask me.

Look, in the end, James Franklin’s doing a whole lot of talking. Look, ain’t gonna lie, he’s worried about the kid, but college football fans aren’t buying it. As much as Pribula didn’t wanna leave, he’s just out there trying to secure his future. You can’t just sit like your whole career warming the bench, especially when you know you can ball. And the NCAA gotta wake up, man, and do something about the situation.