Notre Dame football: If Drew Pyne transfers, what are 5 possible schools?

Notre Dame football has had a revolving door at quarterback this season, but based on his playing time, could Drew Pyne leave South Bend?

No, Notre Dame football quarterback Drew Pyne isn’t in the transfer portal, but given how he’s been used this season, would it be a shock to see him go? Let’s take a second to talk about why Notre Dame football is in this situation with Pyne, and where he could go next if things don’t work out in South Bend.

It’s also worth remembering that by all accounts Pyne is engaged with the team and doing everything the right way. This is more a reflection on the state of college football in 2021.

The challenge is that Pyne doesn’t fit into Notre Dame’s plan. The plan was that Jack Coan would come in and take over for Ian Book for one year. No one thought he’d be great, but he’d be a serviceable option at quarterback to bridge the gap until phenom recruit Tyler Buchner was ready to go.

Of course, it doesn’t need to be restated that this isn’t how things have gone. Pyne has had to come into multiple games, and based solely on what he’s shown in those games, he probably should be getting more playing time. However, given his usage since then, it’s clear the coaching staff isn’t interested in having him as the long-term option in South Bend.

The truth is, if Pyne was going to play, he’d be playing. It’s also difficult to manage quarterbacks in the era of the transfer portal. You have to keep them happy, or they’ll go find a new home. Look at the quarterback situations at Oklahoma, Florida, or really any program that recruits talented quarterbacks.

If they’re not going to play, they’re going to transfer. Now, that’s a healthy thing for the sport, and it’s the right thing for the players, but it does change how coaches manage their rosters. Think about it like this, if Drew Pyne was going to be the next starter for three years or so, why would Buchner stay around? He’d probably transfer.

Because of his age and the lack of hype entering Notre Dame, Drew Pyne is the odd man out of this quarterback room. That means that there is a good chance he decides to transfer from Notre Dame, in search of a job that is all his own.

He could also stay to finish his degree then go. He could potentially never transfer too. This, it should be noted, is speculation. However, it’s speculation rooted in the reality of the modern game too.

So, with all of that being said, here are a few possible landing spots for Drew Pyne, if he were to transfer out of Notre Dame.