Tyler Buchner entered the 2022 season as Notre Dame’s starting quarterback. Unfortunately, an injury in a loss to Marshall derailed his career with Buchner unable to return to game action before the bowl.

Now, Buchner has been engaged with former Wake Forest star Sam Hartman for the starting job with the Irish. Coming out of the spring, Buchner is now expected to test the transfer portal.

According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Buchner will test the transfer portal and examine his options as of Tuesday, but Buchner is entering with a willingness to return to Notre Dame if he doesn’t like the available options.

Buchner went on to confirm the move in a note on Twitter. He also confirmed through conversations with head coach Marcus Freeman that a return to the Irish is not out of the question.

Buchner struggled in last year’s season opener against Ohio State with just 195 total yards before throwing 2 interceptions in a disappointing home loss to Marshall. He did account for 5 touchdowns in a bowl win over South Carolina but also threw 3 interceptions.

Tyler Buchner’s portal prospects

Coming out of high school, Buchner was a 4-star prospect and the No. 11 QB in the country for the 2021 recruiting class per the 247 Sports Composite. It’s possible a team elsewhere still sees Buchner’s talent as a game-changer, but it is hard to sell Buchner as a true starter at a power program strictly based on his 2022 results.

Buchner is likely to have a number of willing teams in the portal, but the chances of a Power 5 program targeting Buchner as the sole starter for 2023 seems less likely. Whether at Notre Dame or elsewhere, Buchner is going to have to compete for a starting job and prove he can hold one early in the season.