Beau Pribula was with the Nittany Lions for three seasons before a change of scenery.
Why did Beau Pribula transfer from Penn State to Missouri? Explaining Tigers QB's 2024 portal decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The college football transfer portal is always moving. In recent years, there have been several big-name quarterbacks that have used the portal to elevate their respective careers.
One name that entered the portal late last year was Beau Pribula. The signal-caller started his career at Penn State but transferred to Missouri during the 2025 offseason.
Early on in his Tigers career, he's had no problems as Missouri's new QB No. 1.
Let's take a look at Pribula's transfer portal decision to go to Missouri.
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Why did Beau Pribula transfer from Penn State to Missouri?
Beau Pribula started his career at Penn State, which is located roughly 112 miles southeast of Happy Valley. He spent three seasons with the Nittany Lions, backing up both Penn State quarterbacks Sean Clifford and Drew Allar last season.
He completed just 37 passes in 24 game appearances for 424 yards with nine touchdowns and an interception. He was typically used as a running quarterback for Penn State, rushing for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, too.
But just before Penn State began its College Football Playoff run last season, Allar announced he would be returning for the 2025 season. One day before the Allar news broke, Pribula entered the portal, during the winter transfer portal window set by the NCAA.
The decision was criticized by some, as the move was seen as abandoning the team before a big postseason. Not to mention that Pribula came off the bench for an injured Allar earlier in the season against Wisconsin. He performed well, finishing 11-of-13 for 98 yards passing with one touchdown and six rushes for 28 yards. Penn State trailed 10-7 at halftime but outscored the Badgers 21-3 in the second half with Pribula at the controls.
But Penn State head coach James Franklin defended his quarterback's decision, despite the awkward timing:
"We got problems in college football, and I can give you my word Beau Pribula did not want to leave our program, and he did not want to leave our program until the end of the season," Franklin said. "But the way the portal is and the timing of it and the way our team is playing, and when you play the position of quarterback and there's only one spot and those spots are filling up, he felt like he was put in a no-win situation, and I agree with him."
Pribula has since addressed his decision to leave Penn State before the playoff.
"It was rough," Pribula said of his decision to leave the Nittany Lions in the middle of the playoff on the "Next Up" podcast earlier this year. "Like it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, making that decision and leaving the team before the playoffs ... It was just horrible timing."
As for joining the Tigers, the quarterback told ESPN in October 2025 that he was intrigued by head coach Eli Drinkwitz and offensive coordinator Kirby Moore's scheme. Not to mention Pribula had a chance to be the starter, which wasn't the case at Penn State.
"I was kind of blown away by coach Drinkwitz and coach Moore," Pribula said. "I had to go see some other schools to compare it all. But it was pretty obvious that Mizzou was the right fit."
Missouri underwent some major turnover this offseason as well, losing quarterback Brady Cook and second-round draft pick Luther Burden III and offensive linemen Armand Membou and Marcus Bryant.
Pribula was named Missouri's starting quarterback ahead of the Tigers' season-opener against Central Arkansas. So far, Pribula has excelled in Mizzou's system, having thrown for 1,203 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. His 75.9 completion percentage is first in the SEC, and he's rushed for 121 yards with three scores.
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Beau Pribula as a recruiting prospect
Beau Pribula is a former 3-star quarterback prospect from the class of 2022. According to the 247Sports Composite, he was the No. 29 overall ranked quarterback prospect in his class and ranked 14th out of his home state of Pennsylvania.
Pribula also held offers from the likes of Nebraska, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and others.
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