Report: Notre Dame QB Tyler Buchner to Enter Transfer Portal; Open to ND Return

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner reportedly will enter the transfer portal.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Buchner is expected to have a "strong market" since he is the most accomplished quarterback to enter the portal during the spring period but is willing to return to Notre Dame.

Buchner, a junior with three years of eligibility remaining, played three games last season, including a Gator Bowl win over South Carolina in which he finished 18-of-33 passing for 273 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions and rushed for 61 yards and two scores on 12 attempts.

In 2021, Buchner was rated by 247Sports as a 4-star prospect as well as the No. 71 player and No. 11 quarterback in the recruiting class.

After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2021, Buchner had a chance to win the starting job ahead of the 2022 season, but the Fighting Irish went with Drew Pyne, who threw for 2,021 yards and 22 touchdowns against six interceptions in 11 games.

While Pyne transferred to Arizona State in December, the door did not open for Buchner to become the starter, as the Irish netted a huge transfer in Sam Hartman, who threw for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns with 41 interceptions in five seasons at Wake Forest.

That included 4,228 yards and 39 touchdowns with 14 picks in 2021 and 3,701 yards and 38 touchdowns with 12 picks last season.

In the Blue-Gold spring game Saturday, Hartman dominated with 189 passing yards and three total touchdowns, while Buchner was just 8-of-18 for 44 yards with an interception.

It was already widely assumed that Hartman would be the starter in 2023, and the dichotomy between him and Buchner in the spring game perhaps removed all doubt.

Thamel suggested Alabama, Stanford and TCU are potential landing spots for Buchner after they lost their starting quarterbacks via the NFL draft.

Alabama in particular could be a good fit because former Notre Dame offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees holds those roles under Nick Saban with the Crimson Tide.

Bama is looking to replace potential No. 1 overall draft pick and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, and Buchner would enter the mix with Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson if he transfers there.