Notre Dame football vs Virginia Tech: 3 Bold Predictions in Week 6

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 02: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defends against in the first half against James Mitchell #82 of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium on November 02, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 02: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defends against in the first half against James Mitchell #82 of the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium on November 02, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 25: Drew Pyne #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish passes over Jack Sanborn #57 of the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field on September 25, 2021, in Chicago, Illinois. Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin 41-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football vs Virginia Tech: 3 Bold Predictions in Week 6

Drew Pyne Finally Starts

Jack Coan can no longer be the starter at Notre Dame. The calls for him to sit are too loud. The offense is too ineffective with him on the field. He throws lame ducks too often. He stares down pressure and loses his footwork, taking sacks and struggling against the rush. The offense is predictable with Coan under center, and it needs to end. At some point, your experience just isn’t good enough.

Tyler Buchner isn’t ready to start. That’s clear from the small sample size that he’s been given to play in. It’s time to play the guy everyone forgot or wrote off as he competed in camp. It’s time for Drew Pyne to finally start.

He’s come into two games, Wisconsin and Cincinnati, and in both games, the offense has exploded under him. The ball is out of his hands quickly, with zip, and he has the athleticism to run. Those aren’t things we’re seeing from Coan, and they help a struggling offensive line.

More importantly, the offense trusts Pyne at quarterback. Chris Tyree recently said, “He brings that energy, that positivity to the offense.” You know what? Tyree is right. Pyne brings energy to the offense that Coan can’t. The offense needs that now, and even if Brian Kelly keeps things close to the vest, the starter should be Pyne.