Ranking the quarterbacks: Where do Notre Dame and its 2022 opponents stand nationally?

You pretty much have to have one to be competitive nationally. Few teams have had success without one. You need a top-notch quarterback if you have deep postseason aspirations, with few exceptions (I’m looking at you, Georgia).

ESPN’s David Hale recognizes the importance of an elite signal-caller and took the time this week to rank the quarterbacks at every FBS school. There are a total of 25 tiers, complete with an explanation of the tier and a blurb about the designated players. Here is where Notre Dame’s and its 2022 opponents’ quarterbacks landed.

Notre Dame, UNC land in ‘big-time QB battles’ category

Notre Dame has four scholarship quarterbacks, and two of them have a realistic opportunity to earn the starting job. The clear favorite is rising sophomore Tyler Buchner, but junior Drew Pyne has yet to be ruled out. Hale acknowledges just that by putting Notre Dame in the “big-time QB battles” section, which he ranks as the 10th tier of 25.

“The Irish and UNC both had solid — if not always spectacular — QB play (last year), but Jack Coan and Sam Howell have moved on,” Hale said. “(The) teams have real potential for 2022 if they can identify a burgeoning star at QB.”

PROMOTION: Sign up for just $1 for your first year at Blue & Gold

Included in the quarterback-battle category is Notre Dame’s Sept. 24 opponent, North Carolina. The fight for starting quarterback for head coach Mack Brown is between Drake Maye and Jacolby Criswell. The two had a bit of a trial run last year against Wofford when Howell was out with an arm injury. Maye was 7-for-9 with 89 yards and a touchdown pass, while Criswell was 11-for-19 with 125 yards. He also ran for a score.

Some daunting opponents

It’s really not a secret at this point: Notre Dame faces some elite quarterbacks in 2022. Hale’s top tier, which he labeled “Heisman or bust,” includes three signal-callers. Notre Dame faces two of them: Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and USC’s Caleb Williams. The third is Alabama’s Bryce Young, the reigning Heisman winner.

Stroud is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Heisman race last year, while Williams is a rising sophomore and Oklahoma transfer who followed his former head coach Lincoln Riley to Los Angeles. Both quarterbacks will be working with some of the best receivers in the country, making these games must-see TV for college football fans.

Where do the other quarterbacks Notre Dame faces rank?

Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec — “Just stay healthy” (Tier 6)

A former Irish quarterback, Jurkovec will return to Notre Dame on Nov. 19. That is, if he can remain in game shape until that point.

“Jurkovec looked like a future first-round pick, but a hand injury interrupted his 2021 season,” Hale said. “And though he returned to action late, it was clear he wasn’t 100%.”

BYU’s Jaren Hall — “Best from outside the Power 5” (Tier 8)

As Hale pointed out, Hall’s QBR of 78.0 was one of the best from a Group of Five quarterback last year. A veteran offensive line will protect him this fall, potentially helping him look even better.

Stanford’s Tanner McKee — “Veterans with moxie” (Tier 9)

McKee was a top-100 recruit in the 2018 class, but his career thus far has been underwhelming. If he can have a good fifth year, he could hear his name called pretty early at the 2023 NFL Draft.

Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei and Cade Klubnik — “Maybe this year they put it all together” (Tier 11)

The Clemson quarterback situation was one of the top surprises in college football last season, and Uigalelei returns for a junior year under immense pressure to perform.

“Uiagalelei was one of the worst statistical QBs in the country last season, despite Clemson winning 10 games,” Hale said. “And he could easily lose his job to Klubnik, another highly touted freshman, if he doesn’t take a major step forward this season.”

Syracuse’s Garrett Shrader — “So you’re saying there’s a chance” (Tier 13)

Shrader is a textbook dual-threat quarterback, as he threw for nine touchdowns last year and ran for 14. He’s surely a big body at 6-4 and 230 pounds.

Cal’s Jack Plummer, Zach Johnson and Kai Millner; and Marshall’s Henry Colombi — “A little change will do you good” (Tier 16)

Plummer is a Purdue transfer, making the Sept. 17 contest between Notre Dame and Cal even more intriguing if he ultimately gets the starting nod for the Bears. The 6-5, 215-pound quarterback completed 25 of his 36 pass attempts for 187 yards and a touchdown last season at Notre Dame Stadium in a 27-13 loss. 

Colombi is a Texas Tech transfer (he spent three years at Utah State as well), who did not participate in spring practice, but is now ready to go at Marshall. Over two years in Lubbock, Texas, the 6-3, 215-pound quarterback threw for 2,356 yards with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He rushed for three scores as well.

Navy’s Tai Lavatai and Xavier Arline; and UNLV’s Cameron Friel — “See, we told you it could be worse” (Tier 24)

Lavatai and Arline played against Notre Dame last season, but the duo threw a total of three passes during the game. The run game is far more important for a triple option team like the Midshipmen.

UNLV’s situation is interesting with Tennessee transfer Harrison Bailey also in the mix. Friel completed 141 of 226 passes last year for 1,608 yards, six touchdowns and 11 picks.