James Franklin didn’t hide how he feels about Beau Pribula, even with the two now set to face off as rivals in the ACC.
“I absolutely love Beau,” Franklin said in Charlotte last week at the ACC Kickoff. “....
It didn't surprise me that he was brought here. He can make plays with his arm and with his feet.
He can beat you with his brain. He's the real deal, and I was heartbroken when he left us at Penn State.”
That kind of praise carries extra weight considering how much has changed for both men since they were together in Happy Valley. Franklin was Penn State’s head coach just 20 months ago.
Pribula was his backup quarterback, hoping to eventually take over in 2025. Now Franklin is at Virginia Tech, hired after three straight stunning losses led to his firing last October, and Pribula is at Virginia, where he’s expected to open as the starter.
The path that got Pribula there was anything but simple. He left Penn State in December 2024 and entered the transfer portal after Drew Allard announced he would return for his junior season instead of heading to the NFL draft. Under the rules at the time, Pribula had to make that move just before Penn State’s College Football Playoff game against SMU, which ended his shot at chasing a national title with the Nittany Lions.
“You guys probably all know that he was put in a tough spot in the playoff,” Franklin said. “We lose not only lour backup quarterback, but he also played a lot for us. We used a lot of packages with him: two quarterbacks on the field, Wildcat, all kinds of stuff.”
Even as a backup, Pribula made his mark at Penn State. In two seasons, the Pennsylvania native completed 37 of 56 passes for 424 yards and nine touchdowns.
He also ran for 571 yards on 94 carries and scored 10 times on the ground. Without ever starting a game, he still ranks eighth in Penn State history among quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns and ninth in rushing yards.
His first real chance to run an offense came at Missouri last season, and he delivered a solid debut as a starter. Pribula threw for 1,941 yards with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while adding 297 rushing yards and six scores. An ankle injury cost him the final two games of the regular season, and he also missed the Tigers’ bowl game - a Gator Bowl loss to Virginia.
Now he’s back in the portal for a second time, and this time he believes he found the right fit in Charlottesville under Tony Elliott. Pribula pointed to Elliott’s background as Clemson’s offensive coordinator, where he won two national titles and helped coach Trevor Lawrence, Deshaun Watson and Tajh Boyd.
“I think just the general direction of the program and where it was going and where it's headed under Coach E, I think that was something that definitely caught my eye," Pribula said. "...
He’s coached a lot of great quarterbacks. You look at his time at Clemson, between Trevor Lawrence, Deshaun Watson and Tajh Boyd, all those guys.
He has a lot of knowledge about good quarterback play, good offensive play, so I’m all ears whenever he’s talking.”
Franklin and Pribula spoke to reporters on different days in Charlotte, so they never crossed paths at the event. They will, however, see each other on Nov. 28 in Blacksburg, when Virginia and Virginia Tech meet in the Commonwealth Cup in the regular-season finale for both schools.
For a few hours that day, the relationship pauses.
“I am a huge Beau Pribula fan,” Franklin said. “I want him to have an unbelievable year.
I want him to play the game of football for as long as he possibly can. I think he's got a future in the NFL as well.
I'll be his biggest supporter and fan every Saturday but one.”
In Other News...
PFF Just Sent Nebraska Fans A Big Anthony Colandrea Message
Anthony Colandreas rise has been steady enough to catch the attention of one of the sports most closely watched evaluators, and Nebraska is banking on that momentum carrying into 2026. After two seasons at Virginia and a strong stop at UNLV, the former Cavaliers quarterback is now set to lead the Cornhuskers, with Pro Football Focus slotting him as the No. 3 quarterback in the Big Ten entering the season.
The appeal is obvious for Nebraska: Colandrea brings a track record of production and dual-threat ability, the kind of profile that can change the shape of an offense if it translates against league defenses. He was productive at UNLV in 2025 both through the air and on the ground, but the Big Ten will be a different test, and the real question is whether he can turn that promise into the kind of consistency Nebraska has been searching for. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Just Settled Its Biggest Offensive Question For 2026
Virginia spent much of the offseason sorting out its most important offensive question, and Beau Pribulas arrival gives the Cavaliers a clear answer heading into 2026. The quarterback brings experience, a comfort level with Virginias offensive scheme and a running threat that should matter in an ACC where many of the leagues top passers do most of their damage from the pocket. For a team trying to stabilize its offense, that combination is a useful place to start.
Pribula also enters with a body of work that suggests there is still room for more production once he settles in fully. His 2025 numbers showed both playmaking and some volatility, and he did that while appearing in only nine full games. Virginias path may also be a little more manageable than some of the quarterbacks it will be measured against, which only raises the importance of getting the most out of the position. The bigger question now is how quickly Pribula can turn that edge into consistent results against the ACCs better defenses. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Just Made Another Early Move In A Familiar Richmond Pipeline
Virginias recruiting reach in Richmond picked up another familiar name this week, as the Cavaliers extended a scholarship offer to Blair Morris, a 2028 athlete from Varina High School. The move came after Morris spent time at a UVA camp, where the staff got a closer look at a player who has already started drawing attention beyond the city, including an offer from East Carolina.
Morris is still early in the process, but the connection to Virginia has some built-in momentum. Current and former Cavaliers with Varina ties have been encouraging him about the program, and he is planning to visit several schools this fall as he sorts through his options. For UVA, it is another chance to stay active in a pipeline that has been good to the program before, even if the next step in Morriss recruitment is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]