Notre Dame QB Kenny Minchey plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Notre Dame football redshirt sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3’s Pete Nakos reported Monday.

The one and only NCAA Transfer Portal window opens Jan. 2 and will remain open until Jan. 16. So, technically, Minchey cannot officially enter his name into the portal until then. However, the wheels are in motion for him to transfer out of Notre Dame and resume his college football career elsewhere. Minchey has two more years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

His decision to depart from the program comes after serving as the team’s backup quarterback for the 2025 season. In August, the 6-2, 208-pound Minchey lost a fierce starting quarterback competition to redshirt freshman CJ Carr. Carr, who started all 12 games this season, has since emerged as one of the top young signal-callers in college football.

But Minchey has plenty of tools, too, which is why he was on the verge of winning the starting quarterback battle before head coach Marcus Freeman named Carr the starter.

Minchey has shined in limited appearances in a Notre Dame uniform, completing 23-29 passes for 212 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. He also brings a dual-threat aspect to his game, rushing for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 carries the last two seasons.

Again, it was limited action, but according to Pro Football Focus, Minchey’s passing grade of 85.8 ranked 10th among Power Four QBs this season. His talent should make him one of the most coveted passers in the portal.

A product of Hendersonville (Tenn.) Pope John Paul II, Minchey was that in the 2023 recruiting cycle. According to the Rivals Industry Ranking, he was the No. 14 quarterback and No. 171 overall player nationally and No. 3 prospect in Tennessee in his class.

Before Notre Dame secured Minchey’s verbal commitment just a few weeks before signing day, it was on the verge of a disastrous ending at quarterback for Freeman’s first recruiting class. The Irish initially pursued and almost secured a public commitment from Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Dante Moore. However, he ended up choosing the Ducks in the summer before his senior year, leaving Notre Dame stranded.

The Irish evaluated several other options, including Minchey, who was committed to Pittsburgh, and one-time Baylor commit Austin Novosad, the No. 10 quarterback in the 2023 class. But both said no to Notre Dame. It was not until just a few weeks before signing day that Minchey had a change of heart and gave the Irish another shot. He visited for the last home game of the season, committed and signed in December 2022.

Now, Minchey will have to go through the recruiting proccess again. But this time, as a college transfer with the opportunity to start elsewhere.