Notre Dame football: Irish answer biggest question heading into Week 1

Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) rushes for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) rushes for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Notre Dame football team has plenty of questions in terms of the roster heading into Week 1, but they answered the biggest one on Saturday.

When it comes to the 2022 Notre Dame football team, there are some huge questions to be answered heading into their Week 1 matchup against Ohio State. They have to figure out what they plan to do at wide receiver, this is after Avery Davis tore his ACL on Friday, and other position groups are not settled right now.

However, the biggest question came at the most important position in all of sports, starting quarterback.

On Saturday, the Irish answered that question, as Tyler Buchner was named QB1 by head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff. Buchner, who had flashes of brilliance during his true freshman season in 2021, had been battling it out with Drew Pyne for the starting job all offseason but pulled ahead of him in recent weeks.

Now, the Irish can get to work on their offensive game plan for Week 1, a game that just happens to be against one of the best teams in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Both teams are ranked in the top-5 heading into the Week 1 battle, so expect some fireworks in Buchner’s first start for the Irish.

Notre Dame football is in good hands with Buchner at QB

After not playing at all during his senior year of high school during the pandemic, Buchner showed no rust, and in fact, proved he could perform on the biggest stage. When the offense needed a boost, it was Buchner who stepped in to lead the charge, which is likely why Tommy Rees is so comfortable with naming him the starter as a true sophomore.

This is a great move by Freeman and his staff, as a quarterback had to be named the starter sooner than later. Buchner can do so many things with both his arm, and his legs, and in 2022, he can show that he should be the team’s starter for the foreseeable future.