While teams are competing for a national championship against 11 others, many college football players, including those in the College Football Playoff, are looking for new schools.
The transfer portal opened last week, just days before the 12-team College Football Playoff, leading to some skepticism.
Earlier this week, Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula found himself in a challenging situation with the portal opening up after Drew Allar’s decision to return next season. Head coach James Franklin acknowledged that the quarterback was in a tough spot.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee looks on from the field during a stoppage in play against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)
On the other side, SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee criticized the timing of the portal opening, calling it “terrible.”
“I feel so awful for our kids and kids around the country,” Lashlee said via ESPN. “There’s no other sport that allows free agency during the season. It’s sad. It’s terrible. You hear the story about their backup quarterback saying, ‘I don’t have a choice.’ That’s wrong. That’s unacceptable. That’s not OK. He shouldn’t have to make that decision.”
Head coach Rhett Lashlee, left, of the SMU Mustangs and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers speak before the ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 7, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
PENN STATE’S JAMES FRANKLIN POINTS OUT BIG TRANSFER PORTAL PROBLEM AS PLAYER ENTERS DESPITE UPCOMING CFP GAME
“The real easy thing is you don’t have a transfer portal in December. That’s the real easy answer, and it solves all the problems,” Lashlee added. “Why in the world would we put kids in a position where they’ve got to decide, ‘Do I transfer or play in the playoff? Do I transfer or play my bowl game?…’ People are bombarding our roster, trying to pick people off our roster, and we’re trying to focus on the playoff. So yeah, it’s real easy – don’t have a transfer portal in December. Go to the spring.”
Lashlee, who defended NIL money and transferring, finds himself in a similar scenario with his backup quarterback in Preston Stone, admitting it’s a “juggling act” at the moment. Stone entered the portal last week, but will stay with the team through their playoff run.
Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Rhett Lashlee stands on the sideline during the Stanford Cardinal game at Stanford Stadium. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Mustangs will head to Happy Valley for a noon contest on Saturday, with the winner facing third-seeded Boise State and Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
