Former Stanford QB Ashton Daniels transfers to Auburn

By The Associated Press

The Auburn Tigers have picked up a second transfer quarterback, with the addition of two-year Stanford starter Ashton Daniels.

Daniels, who announced his destination Monday on Instagram, joins ex-Oklahoma starter Jackson Arnold in heading to the quarterback-starved Tigers.

Auburn must replace starter Payton Thorne, and two backups have entered the transfer portal. Daniels passed for 3,986 yards, 21 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in three seasons at Stanford. He also ran for 1,117 yards and nine touchdowns.

The announcement came two days after Auburn coach Hugh Freeze nabbed Arnold from the portal. Freeze didn’t get a quarterback from the portal last season and the Tigers struggled to a fourth straight losing season.

Daniels announced on Dec. 5 that he would be transferring away from The Farm, following backup Justin Lamson out the door.

As a junior, Daniels passed for 1,700 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while adding 669 yards and three touchdowns as a rusher. He debuted as a freshman in 2022 in a limited role in David Shaw’s last season and started the majority of the last two seasons under coach Troy Taylor.

Bear Bachmeier starred at Murrieta Valley, amassing 86 total touchdowns (30 rushing) in high school as a dual threat. He will have to compete with former top recruit Elijah Brown, the likely starter next season for the Cardinal after a disappointing 3-9 season.

Meanwhile, Penn State backup Beau Pribula is not sticking around for the team’s matchup with SMU in the College Football Playoff.

The redshirt sophomore quarterback has announced he is entering the transfer portal, taking him out of the mix when the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (11-2) host the 11th-seeded Mustangs (11-2) in the opening round on Saturday.

The transfer portal opened last week, less than 24 hours after the 12-team CFP field was announced.