Notre Dame Football vs. Wisconsin: 3 things we learned in Week 4

Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. (4) celebrates his touchdown during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. (4) celebrates his touchdown during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) looks to pass against the Wisconsin Badgers during their football game Saturday, September 25, 2021, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinApc Badgersvsnotredame 0925212128djp
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) looks to pass against the Wisconsin Badgers during their football game Saturday, September 25, 2021, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinApc Badgersvsnotredame 0925212128djp /

Notre Dame Football vs. Wisconsin: 3 things we learned in Week 4

Drew Pyne will be an FBS starter next season

During the last two games, the Irish have turned to true freshman Tyler Buchner when Jack Coan and the offense sputtered, and Buchner has had some fine moments. However, on Saturday, when Coan was injured against the Badgers, Brian Kelly turned to Drew Pyne, due to the fact Buchner could not play due to his hamstring injury.

While Coan would not return, it would not matter, as Pyne looked sharp, completing a bunch of tight passes, and showing he could certainly run this offense if needed. The truth is, Pyne nearly won the starting job this summer, and he showed on Saturday that whether it is in South Bend, or somewhere else, he is going to be a starting quarterback somewhere in 2022.

Pyne was a very highly-touted recruit coming out of high school and has an electric arm and a tremendously high football IQ. Many teams in the country would clamor for his services, and if Coan is out against Cincinnati next Saturday, we saw against Wisconsin that the Irish are in good hands.