Notre Dame Football: Starting Malik Zaire vs. LSU Is Wise Move by Brian Kelly

Brian Kelly announced in mid-December that Notre Dame would rotate two quarterbacks—Everett Golson and Malik Zaire—in the Music City Bowl against LSU.

On Monday, however, he elaborated to say Zaire would make the first start of his career, displacing Golson after an up-and-down season in which he turned the ball over 22 times. 

Starting Zaire is a necessary risk for the Irish, who have to learn as much about their redshirt freshman as possible before next season.

No matter which QB started this game, there was going to be a position battle in spring and fall camp. If Golson returns, it will be between him and Zaire. If Golson declares for the NFL draft, it will be between Zaire, DeShone Kizer and Brandon Wimbush.

But Kelly and his staff already know what they need to know about Golson. He makes difficult throws look easy and easy throws look difficult. He has tremendous arm talent and played like a Heisman candidate in September and October. But he also has reckless tendencies and played like a third-stringer in November.

JOE RAYMOND/Associated Press

Zaire is the unknown alternative. He outplayed Golson in the 2014 spring game but couldn't win the job in fall camp. Golson earned the right to start by leading Notre Dame to the BCS National Championship Game in 2012—even though he missed the following season with an academic suspension—but Zaire is the better runner and has made great use of his time the past two seasons. He just needs to prove he can do it in a game.

"I want to challenge [Zaire] and put him in this kind of environment," Kelly told reporters, per Andrew Owens of 247Sports. He also said Zaire has "a greater understanding of what the team is doing offensively" after watching Golson play from the sidelines.

Zaire earned the first extended action of his career in the regular-season finale against USC, relieving Golson after Notre Dame fell behind 35-0. He promptly led a touchdown drive but finished the game just 9-of-20 passing with a QB rating of 116.4.

There's a difference, though, between starting a game and coming off the bench. The quarterback prepares differently. The defense prepares differently. Both entire teams prepare differently. This is his first genuine audition to win the starting job in 2015.

Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer thinks it was a long time coming:

Zaire will neither win nor lose the job against LSU. Golson has too high of a ceiling to get benched eight months before the season. If he returns, this QB battle will again last into August.

But in starting Zaire—and in doing so against one of the best pass defenses in college football—Kelly will give himself an important data point heading into the spring. How Zaire handles the spotlight will no longer be a hypothetical. The proof will play out on the field.

Notre Dame's offense can be great next season if it doesn't shoot itself in the foot.

Greg Bryant will be one year older and stronger at running back. Will Fuller will be one year older and stronger (unthinkable as that may be) at receiver. The offensive line should be solid once again.

The only thing it needs is a quarterback. Fortunately, there's a chance it has two. But a regular-season platoon would be sub-optimal. Kelly needs to pick one horse and back it unswervingly; but he can't make that pick until Zaire starts a real, live game.

Which is why Zaire is starting Tuesday's real, live game.

Follow Brian Leigh on Twitter: @BLeigh35