Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK
Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula throws during warmups before playing West Virginia in the season opener at Beaver Stadium September 2, 2023, in State College.
When former Penn State and Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal following the 2025 season, he had one destination in mind.
Pribula, a Pennsylvania native who began his career with the Nittany Lions, was intent on reuniting with former coach James Franklin at Virginia Tech.
And it appeared that Franklin was on the same page; at least, that’s what Pribula was led to believe.
James Franklin Pulled The Rug From Under Beau Pribula On Virginia Tech Visit
Franklin and Pribula had a great relationship in their time together at Penn State. So much so that it was difficult for both of them when Pribula opted to transfer to Missouri rather than sit another year behind starter Drew Allar.
Franklin stated that Pribula had “been a phenomenal teammate, has been a big reason why we are where we are right now” when he left the Nittany Lions during their 2024 College Football Playoff run.
So it was no surprise that even after Pribula’s up-and-down season at Missouri, the two reunited when Pribula re-entered the portal.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Pribula revealed that he and agent Joe Gazza had only one visit scheduled when the transfer portal officially opened Jan. 2: to Virginia Tech.
Franklin even set up for a car service to drive Pribula, his older brother Cade, and Gazza from his home in York, PA to Blacksburg for an official visit.
However, immediately after the trio arrived on campus at Virginia Tech, they were told that Franklin and co. opted to go in a different direction. Rather than signing Pribula, they chose another former Penn State quarterback, Ethan Grunkemeyer.
Grunkemeyer had served as Allar’s understudy in 2025 and then started seven games after Allar broke his left ankle against Northwestern.
“I’m like, ‘What are you talking about? We’re here,'” Gazza said.
Pribula was forced to immediately pivot and eventually found his way to Franklin and Virginia Tech’s rival: the Virginia Cavaliers.
“The clock was ticking,” Pribula said. “I didn’t want to rush anything. But I understood time was not something that was a luxury.”
The two sides will square off on Nov. 28 in the Commonwealth Cup rivalry game. And you can bet Pribula will come into that game with a chip on his shoulder.