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Notre Dame

Tyler Buchner returns to Notre Dame football quarterback room

Singer headshotby: Mike Singer07/31/25MikeTSinger
Tyler Buchner on3 fp
Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner

Notre Dame signed Elite 11 finalist Tyler Buchner as a decorated quarterback in the 2021 class with high hopes for the San Diego native to lead the Fighting Irish to the promised land.

Fast forward four years, and Buchner is still on the Irish roster and in the quarterback room, but quite a lot has transpired between then and now.

Buchner appeared in 10 games as a true freshman, primarily as a running threat and occasionally to spell then-starter Jack Coan. He was QB1 in 2022 but was hurt in game No. 2 and didn’t return until the Gator Bowl against South Carolina.

Notre Dame brought in Sam Hartman, so Buchner hit the NCAA Transfer Portal. Buchner played in two games with one start for the Crimson Tide. He went 3-for-5 for 27 yards in relief against Middle Tennessee State with one rushing attempt for 9 yards and a touchdown. In his lone start against South Florida, he was 5-of-14 through the air for 34 yards. He ran twice for 11 yards.

After one season in Tuscaloosa, Buchner re-entered the portal. On Dec. 20, 2023, he announced he was returning to Notre Dame to play for the Irish lacrosse program.

Five months later, he walked back onto the Irish football team as a wide receiver. He was utilized in moments on special teams during the 2024 season, and now he’s back in the Notre Dame quarterback room.

“He’s been itching to get back in that room,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said during his press conference on Thursday afternoon. “If you watched the wide receiver individual drills last year, he was throwing the ball.”

Without Buchner in the quarterback room, Notre Dame doesn’t have a signal-caller on its roster who has started a game. CJ Carr has appeared in one game, while Kenny Minchey has 16 career passing yards — and those are the two quarterbacks vying for Notre Dame’s starting position.

Does Buchner figure into the battle? No, but Buchner, who was seen wearing No. 10 in practice Thursday, provides leadership and knowledge to share with the younger quarterbacks.

“When Steve [Angeli] decided to leave, we felt like we wanted more experience in that room,” Freeman continued. “His job is to make the room better — and get better yourself. I see him doing that. He’s helping Blake [Hebert] and working with Kenny and CJ — through his experience — while becoming a better player himself. I’m glad to have him back in there.”

Buchner was the primary holder on field goal units during practice as well.

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