When Tyler Buchner ended up choosing Notre Dame as part of the football team’s 2021 recruiting class, the hope was that he would be able to help the Fighting Irish win a national championship.
He did, but it didn’t happen as some expected.
On Monday, Buchner ended an absolutely crazy last 18 months.
Buchner was Notre Dame’s starting quarterback in 2022, struggling against Ohio State and Marshall before getting injured and missing the remainder of the regular season. He returned for the Gator Bowl where he earned home game MVP honors after throwing three touchdowns and rushing for two more in a comeback victory against South Carolina.
After Sam Hartman transferred to Notre Dame for the 2023 season, Buchner entered the transfer portal after spring practice, eventually ending up at Alabama. He started one game for the Crimson Tide last fall, struggling mightily and staying behind Jalen Milroe the rest of the year.
At the end of the regular season, Buchner announced that he would return to Notre Dame but not to play football. Instead, the former Fighting Irish starting quarterback would join the reigning national championship lacrosse team, a sport he played in high school in California.
On Monday, Buchner and the Fighting Irish concluded their incredible season with a dominant 15-5 victory over Maryland in the national championship. Buchner played a reserve role this year, as expected after not playing lacrosse competitively in five years.
Whatever the future holds for Buchner, it will be hard to imagine him experiencing an 18-month ride as wild as the one he just experienced.
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Notre Dame vs. Stanford
Tyler Buchner #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes for a touchdown against the Stanford…
Tyler Buchner #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish rushes for a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half at Stanford Stadium on November 27, 2021 in Stanford, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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NCAA football: Brigham Young at Notre Dame
October 8, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, United States; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) celebrates after…
October 8, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, United States; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) celebrates after throwing a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter against the BYU Cougars at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashor-USA TODAY Sports
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Brigham Young vs. Notre Dame
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 08: Quarterback Drew Pyne #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish…
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 08: Quarterback Drew Pyne #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up during a timeout in the Shamrock Series game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Allegiant Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Fighting Irish defeated the Cougars 28-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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NCAA Football: Notre Dame at North Carolina
September 24, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10)…
September 24, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Drew Pyne (10) looks to pass during the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Notre Dame spring football game
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – APRIL 22: Sam Hartman #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up…
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – APRIL 22: Sam Hartman #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up before the Notre Dame Blue-Gold spring football game at Notre Dame Stadium on April 22, 2023 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
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The story was originally published on Fighting Irish Wire
