The ISU athletic department announced that sophomore quarterback Phillip Bates has left the football team.

Bates’s father, Phillip Sr., told the athletic department of his son’s plans to leave and requested a release from his scholarship.

At the start of the season, Bates battled fellow sophomore Austen Arnaud for the starting position. Since then, Arnaud has received the bulk of the playing time.

“I am disappointed that Phillip is quitting our team,” said coach Gene Chizik in press release. “Although I understand his desire to be a starting quarterback, I am extremely disappointed that he is quitting two days prior to a game. However, we will give him his release, continue to support him academically and honor his scholarship for the rest of the fall semester.”