How Tyler Buchner views likely competition with a to-be-determined transfer quarterback

Tyler Buchner gave one word when asked if he feels he has staying power as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback beyond the Dec. 30 Gator Bowl. Three letters, delivered straight-faced with a slight nod.

“Yep.”

Buchner, the starter sidelined after two games but surprisingly back for the postseason, knows earning QB1 designation last August won’t carry over to this offseason. Not with a shoulder injury that limited him to three games.

That’s too small a sample to say he’s ill-fit for the job. But also too small for Notre Dame to move forward as if nothing happened – no matter what he does at TIAA Bank Field against No. 19 South Carolina. Which is why he understands not only needing to earn the job again, but competing with a to-be-determined transfer portal addition for it.

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“I honestly figured they’d bring in someone,” Buchner said. “There’s been rumblings about it, and I understand. Someone gets hurt, you need more depth in the room. You need people.”

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and head coach Marcus Freeman haven’t been shy in press conferences this month about hinting at their desire to add a transfer quarterback. Before they said anything publicly, they informed the Irish quarterbacks of their intentions.

That news was part of 10-game starter Drew Pyne’s Dec. 2 announcement that he would hop in the portal and find a new place to play his final three years. His exit further opened the door for Buchner to start the Gator Bowl, the expected outcome even if Freeman hasn’t formally announced it.

“Drew is one of my best friends,” Buchner said. “We still talk. We’re really close. I wish the best for him. He’s a really talented player. I want to see him win.”

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Pyne will take his 8-2 record as Notre Dame’s starter this year into a competition somewhere else. Perhaps at Arizona State, where he visited last weekend. Or BYU, where multiple reports stated he visited earlier this month. Maybe he didn’t foresee a transfer addition or didn’t like his odds of competing against a portal import and a teammate who already bested him once. Whatever the reason, he made the move he felt was best for him.

“I say it’s the best because he made it,” Freeman said of Pyne. “I love him. We’re so grateful for what he did for our program this year and I wish him all the best. I’ll never go back and regret the conversation we had about our plans moving forward. I can’t wait to see him thrive and do great things in college football this upcoming year.”

Buchner, meanwhile, has chosen to battle a transfer, rising sophomore Steve Angeli, incoming freshman Kenny Minchey and junior-to-be Ron Powlus III for the job next year. He didn’t anticipate needing to prove himself once again when Notre Dame anointed him the starter more than four months ago. But as his head coach can attest, nothing goes exactly as planned.

Buchner ended the regular season with zero wins and zero touchdown passes on his ledger. As confident in himself as he appears to be, he understands the business of making decisions with the team’s best interest in mind and how that meshes with adding a transfer quarterback.

Notre Dame pushed in with him this summer, betting on growth through this season that would lead to a multi-year run as the starter. That growth might still happen, but assuming as much is too big a risk for Notre Dame to take.

That’s why a transfer is likely coming to South Bend.

Buchner, though, feels like he turned a season spent on the sideline and in the coach’s booth into a growth opportunity that has left him feeling inspired about what’s next.

No matter the challenger who arrives via the portal this winter.

“You never really envision it going this way when you’re announced the starter, you’re hurt Week 2 and you lose two games,” Buchner said. “But you learn a lot through that.”