Things are buzzing when it comes to the Notre Dame football team and its starting quarterback race. There's a lot of talk that the battle has entered its final stage, with Kenny Minchey the leader in the clubhouse. And most fans think that once the winner is declared, that's the end of it. But there's bound to be blowback even when the race is over.
When the battle is officially decided, this era of college sports dictates that the loser could look for greener pastures. It happened when the writing was on the wall for Steve Angeli. He departed after spring practice wrapped up, and it was clear the competition was between CJ Carr and Minchey. And while Minchey has stuck around despite not getting a shot at the starting job the last few years, if he loses the job this time, might he leave?
Notre Dame must brace for portal fallout after the Kenny Minchey–CJ Carr QB decision
It's not even that Minchey or Carr might transfer out of the Notre Dame football program if they aren't named the starter. It's the timing of the portal window and when they could leave. If the Irish make the playoffs, they could face the idea of losing their top backup just head of the playoffs.
It's happened before. It happened last year. Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula left the Nittany Lions before they started their playoff run that ended against Notre Dame. If the same thing happened with the Irish, they'd be between a rock and a hard place.
Notre Dame demonstrated the importance of a solid, veteran backup in that game against Pribula's former mates. When Riley Leonard had to leave in the first half because of injury, Steve Angeli led the Irish on a scoring drive.
What happens if CJ Carr is named the starter and Kenny Minchey finally decides to look elsewhere when the portal opens in December? Blake Hebert or Tyler Buchner being the backup seems less than ideal.
While definitely not a situation anyone wants to think about, it's also the new reality that Notre Dame football fans should brace for and hope for the best.