Notre Dame football: Tyler Buchner must lean on vets in first collegiate start
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team takes on a tough Ohio State team in Week 1, and newly minted QB Tyler Buchner must lean on the veterans.
The Notre Dame football team is starting to prepare for their Week 1 matchup against the Ohio State Buckeyes, an early-season battle between two top-5 teams. The Buckeyes are regarded by many as a real national title contender, while some experts, including Paul Finebaum, feel the Irish are way overrated by the Associated Press.
Still, the Irish can crush that narrative right out the gate, and to do so, they will need great play from their newly-minted quarterback, Tyler Buchner. Buchner earned the starting job this summer, beating out Drew Pyne in an intense battle between two quarterbacks who helped the team in their successful 11-1 regular season last year.
Now, Buchner takes the helm of the program, and to be successful, he is going to have to lean on the veterans around him. There are plenty of guys on this roster who have played in big games during their time in South Bend, and the September 3rd matchup against Ohio State could be an instant classic.
Buchner proved in 2021 that the big moments do not get to him, and going up against a Heisman Trophy candidate on the other sideline in CJ Stroud, he can really establish himself as one of the better young signal-callers in the country.
Notre Dame football loaded with talent in 2022
The truth is, the Notre Dame football team is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and on offense, Buchner has some key players to lean on. The starting offensive line is mostly back from a year ago and will be complete if Jarrett Patterson is healthy enough to go, while tight end Michael Mayer is the best in the country.
Chris Tyree will take on more of a leadership role in 2022 in the backfield, and at wide receiver, fellow 2021 recruit Lorenzo Styles Jr. is a familiar face he can throw to. Overall, Buchner should be very comfortable in this huddle and must establish himself as the alpha in his first season as the starter in South Bend.
This will be an amazing test for Buchner right out of the gate, but as we saw last season, he lives for the big moments.