Penn State football sophomore quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer is entering the transfer portal, according to a report from Pete Thamel. He leaves Happy Valley with three years of eligibility remaining.

NEWS: Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he tells ESPN. He’s a redshirt freshman with three seasons remaining. He started seven games for Penn State this season and led them to four-straight wins to close the season. pic.twitter.com/pddK9tgqX3

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 1, 2026

Grunkemeyer joined the Nittany Lions in 2024 and began his career as a third-string quarterback behind Drew Allar and Beau Pribula. When Pribula was forced to transfer before Penn State’s playoff run, though, Grunkemeyer moved to QB2. Up big, he got into the game against SMU in the first round, throwing two passes. One was completed for nine yards, the other was intercepted.

In 2025, Grunkemeyer found himself in another unexpected role with Allar’s injury against Northwestern, making him the starter. Since then, the Lewis Center, Ohio, native played seven games for the Nittany Lions.

Grunkemeyer has been a major part of Penn State’s fight for bowl eligibility, and his confidence is the reason the Nittany Lions have been able to throw downfield more.

The 6’2″ and 207-pounder was a four-star recruit in high school, according to 247Sports composite rankings, and listed as the No. 5 player in Ohio, No. 7 quarterback, and No. 105 player nationally. He chose Penn State over Indiana, Clemson, and Yale. Similar to Allar, he was a late bloomer in the recruiting cycle.

Grunkemeyer is the 21st Nittany Lion to enter the transfer portal since the end of the 2025 season.

He leaves a question-filled quarterback room. The Nittany Lions, though, will likely try to add talent at the position during this transfer portal window. Penn State spent much of 2025 with wide receiver Liam Clifford as backup to Grunkemeyer due to injuries.