It looks like the 2025 season will be the defining chapter of James Franklin‘s career at Happy Valley. There’s a lot of pressure, perhaps more so than ever before. One Big Ten coach boldly stated that this season will be the one where Franklin faces accountability. He warned that if Penn State fails to overcome its big-game challenges with this group, Franklin may never achieve success. On paper, Franklin’s record at Penn State looks impressive: 101-42 overall, five top-nine finishes in the Coaches and AP polls, and a consistent presence on the national stage since 2014. But the glaring omission? No appearances in the national championship game, and a disappointing 1-10 record against Ohio State.

Franklin has managed to retain a loaded roster—guys like Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, and Kaytron Allen, all deferred the NFL for one more bite at the championship apple. With a few key additions from the transfer portal and a new defensive coordinator, Penn State is now emerging as a serious national title contender. And that leads us to Beau Pribula—a name familiar to Penn State faithful. Pribula was the second behind Drew Allar, and though he didn’t receive a lot of starting reps, he opened a lot of eyes when he replaced Allar during the injury game at Wisconsin and led the team to a victory. With Allar returning in 2025 and no apparent clear road to starting, Pribula made the difficult decision.

“Beau Pribula made this quarterback room better because it gave you a game-ready type of player. That if Drew Aller had to miss time, Beau Pribula was ready to go,” comments Zach Seyko on the recent Locked on Nittany Lions. Whenever Drew Allar had to sit out, such as in that Wisconsin game, Beau filled in and didn’t just hold it down—he led a comeback victory, going 11 for 13 for 98 yards and a touchdown, with 28 rushing yards. The ultimate definition of being ready is when someone calls your name. Franklin and the staff appreciated having Beau on the team because he brought a unique vibe and skill set—he served as a ‘gadget’ player, executing wildcat packages and keeping the defense on its toes.

Zach further adds, “James Franklin in that process not only let Beau Pribula transfer, especially in the middle of a playoff run ahead of a playoff run he also encouraged him to.” Why? Let’s be honest, plenty of coaches preach about being ‘player-first,’ but when it comes down to it, they wish to retain all their talent in-house, even if it means a player’s career freezes on the bench.

“I’ll give him this, he does look out for his players, he does look out for the team. And it was in Beau Privula’s best interest to transfer because he was going to be a backup, behind Drew Allar, coming back for another season. So in order to get ahead at another program, it was wise for him to transfer, and James Franklin did the right thing,” Zach clarified.

Franklin’s handling here is rather refreshing. Rather than pleading with Beau to remain ‘just in case,’ he was candid. If you wish to begin, you will have to go elsewhere. With Drew Allar coming back for one more year and everything indicating that he is the obvious starter, Beau faced another year as QB2. For a guy like Beau, who’s already shown he can fill in and win games, riding the pine just doesn’t cut it.

Franklin does care about what is best for his players, even if it means losing a quality backup on the verge of a playoff push. He desires his guys to do well, whether that is at Penn State or someplace else. And let’s be honest—it was a shrewd move for Beau as well. He ended up at Missouri, where he has a legitimate chance to start and put his talent on display, and he signed a big NIL deal. Now, with Pribula gone, the QB battle is wide open.

Why the QB battle will play out over time?

“There’s a battle for this backup QB job. Ethan Gronkemeyer comes in with the pedigree of being a top 10 recruited quarterback, but Jackson Smolik should not be forgotten about in this conversation,” says Zach. Jackson Smolik, who faced challenges last season, performed well in the spring game and is now healthy. Grunkemeyer arrives with a lot of hype as one of the top-10 recruits, but Smolik’s experience and composure have made this one legit competition.

The best part is, unlike last season, where it was simply Allar and Pribula, Penn State now has two legitimate QB2 options—both of whom can run the entire playbook.

“You can’t make a decision based on one glorified practice if you will. I’m just here to tell you that this is a close battle, these two are neck and neck, it is not going to be decided.” Both players were showing glimpses in the spring game—Smolik was sharp and confident, and Grunkemeyer showed that big arm and athleticism that got him rated as a top recruit. However, you can’t declare a winner based on just a few staged drives, especially when the defense is straightforward and the playbook is limited. Coaches are observing each snap in practice, each rep in the study room, and each moment in the strength gym.

Competition makes stars, and you don’t want to know who rises during summer drills and fall camp, but only one afternoon in April. This fight is going to ride on consistency, leadership, and who has confidence running the offense when it counts. Smolik and Grunkemeyer each have a legitimate opportunity, and the coaches are going to allow this to unfold properly.