Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1539550
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 5 13 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Responding to widespread criticism from coaches and others, the NCAA is poised to change how the transfer portal operates. The FBS Oversight Commit- tee voted in early September to push back the winter transfer window so that it's not in such close proximity to the start of the College Football Playoff. If approved by the Division I Ad- ministrative Committee, the upcoming 10-day window will open on Jan. 2, shortly after the quarterfinal round of the CFP takes place on Dec. 31, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2026. A n o t h e r m a jo r c h a n ge awaiting final approval would scrap the spring transfer win- dow altogether, leaving only the January opening as an op- portunity for players to switch schools. During a Sept. 4 appearance on the "Penn State Coaches Show," James Franklin said he thought that the switch to a once-a-year portal schedule would be positive. However, he added that he wasn't sure if pushing the portal open- ing back to early January would fix the problem of players feeling pressured to leave even as their teams are preparing for playoff games. "I think what the Big Ten was pushing is to have a transfer portal that was open and closed when the season was over," Franklin told host Steve Jones. "I think the SEC was pushing to pretty much keep the calendar the same but get rid of the second transfer portal. Both [the Big Ten and SEC] wanted to get rid of a second transfer portal and just have one. The dis- cussion was the timing of it." Franklin cited Beau Pribula's exit last December as an example of the problems with an in-season window. Pribula had been backing up starting quarterback Drew Allar but entered the transfer por- tal ahead of Penn State's playoff opener against SMU. He later transferred to Mis- souri, and the Lions were forced to pro- mote true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer to the backup role. Franklin said he doesn't think the re- cent changes to the calendar will alleviate the pressure that caused Pribula to leave the team in advance of its most important games. "I know that Penn State, as well as a number of the Big Ten coaches, just didn't feel like it was in the best interest of the sport or the student-athletes to have a transfer portal that's open during the sea- son," Franklin said. "Everybody knows the Beau Pribula situation last year. Beau ended up going into the transfer portal and not finishing the season because es- sentially he had no other choice. And this [change] really hasn't resolved that." — Nate Bauer BEAVER STADIUM GAMES HIGHLIGHT PSU HOCKEY SLATES After years of waiting, Penn State will finally head to Beaver Stadium for an out- door ice hockey game. In late August, PSU confirmed that coach Guy Gadowsky's Nittany Lions will host Michi- gan State at the storied football stadium on Saturday, Jan. 31. The matchup with the Spar- tans will be a part of a double- header with the women's ice hockey team, which is set to face Robert Morris. "This is a historic moment for Penn State Hockey, our fans and the entire Penn State community," athletics director Patrick Kraft said in a prepared statement. "To bring the ex- citement of college hockey to Beaver Stadium is truly spe- cial. Having our men's pro- gram face a premier Big Ten opponent in Michigan State and our women's program face Robert Morris on this stage reflects the incredible growth and national profile of Penn State Hockey and provides an unforgettable experience for our student-athletes, alumni and fans. We can't wait to see Hockey Valley come alive in Beaver Stadium." Gadowsky thanked Kraft, deputy ath- letics director Vinnie James and football coach James Franklin for helping turn a long-gestating idea into reality. "Our team and so many Penn Staters are extremely excited about this game in Beaver Stadium," Gadowsky said. "It has been consistently asked of me since I ar- rived at Penn State, and I want to send thanks to Coach Franklin for sharing his home with us, as well as Dr. Pat Kraft, Vinnie James and the entire Penn State Athletics Department for making it hap- pen." The Nittany Lions enter the new season as the betting favorites to win the national championship. The addition of superstar forward Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick in next year's NHL Draft, was made official over the summer, and Gad- owsky's team also features a 2025 first- round selection in defenseman Jackson Smith. — Sean Fitz Franklin: Changes To Portal Don't Address Problem James Franklin cited the transfer of backup quarterback Beau Pribula last December as an example of why the portal shouldn't open until after the season. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS