Penn State's James Franklin calls for critical college football transfer portal change

Penn State coach James Franklin says there should be limits to the transfer portal. 

Although it has given players the freedom to pursue other opportunities at other schools, there should be a line that shouldn’t be crossed from Franklin’s viewpoint

“We’re having these conversations during the playoffs,” Franklin said on "The Triple Option" podcast. “I’m trying to retain my team during the playoffs. That’s the challenge. We’re trying to get rid of this so you don’t have the transfer portal open during the playoffs. We should be totally focused on trying to win a championship and instead, I’m having conversations to try to keep the team together.”

Franklin has been extremely vocal about this process in the past, but believes college football is moving in the right direction, specifically in the Big Ten with its recent expansion.

“I’m proud,” Franklin said. “I think the biggest thing is the point that you just made. It’s strange that the Big Ten is now on the West Coast but I think whenever you’re able to add a USC, a UCLA, a Washington and an Oregon to your conference — you can argue this is the strongest the Big Ten has ever been in its history from top to bottom.”

Franklin said he’s excited for the future, but more importantly, what the Nittany Lions have done year after year in one of the sport’s toughest conferences.

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“So, yeah, I’m proud of that," Franklin added. "I’m proud of being associated with the Big Ten, I’m proud of what we’ve been able to do. I’m proud of the success on the football field and I’m proud of Penn State’s role in that as well.”

Penn State’s season begins at the end of August, hosting Nevada in Week 1.