Nearly nine thousand passing yards, 72 passing touchdowns, and two College Football Playoff Semifinal appearances later, Notre Dame QB Ian Book’s NFL dream continued forward Saturday when the California native was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round.

On the same day, the Fighting Irish hit the field for their spring game, shining a bright light on the vacant QB spot left open by Book. For the last three years, the Fighting Irish have been a quarterback away from seriously competing for a national title. Can any of these guys competing for the job make up that difference? Let’s take a look.

Jack Coan

Being the veteran in the QB room and the presumptive favorite, Coan is under a bigger microscope than others in this class. Coan is a winner. The Sayville, N.Y. native started 18 games at Wisconsin in the 2018-19 seasons, winning 12 of them, notching 23 touchdowns to just eight interceptions, and a close Rose Bowl loss to Justin Herbert and Oregon in 2019. After graduating, Coan decided to finish his career elsewhere after watching Graham Mertz flourish in 2020. 

In terms of fit, Brian Kelly has to be extremely comfortable in what he has in Coan. The grad transfer plays a similar style to Book, not an elite down-the-field passer, good at managing the game, hitting short routes, and making plays with his legs (four career rushing touchdowns at Wisconsin). He showcased some of that on Saturday. He didn’t light the world on fire through the air, completing 18/32 passes for 197 yards and an interception. It doesn’t seem like that performance-enhanced/hurt his lead for the QB spot.

247Sports noted what most people think is obvious: this is Coan’s job to lose. The Fighting Irish won’t announce it now, but they like Coan’s arm strength, an upgrade over what they had in Book. They won’t make the decision soon, but as it almost always goes, leaning with the veteran over the younger options in the locker room.

Drew Pyne

Pyne is probably going to end up being the forgotten man in this QB race. A four-star recruit out of New Canaan, Connecticut, and a top-200 overall player nationally, Pyne saw action in four games while redshirting the 2020 season (including completing one pass for seven yards in the Rose Bowl game against Alabama). Pyne excelled in high school as a two-time Connecticut state champion, passing for over 100 touchdowns at New Canaan HS and ending as their career leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Pyne doesn’t have the prototypical size teams look for in quarterbacks, listed at just 5-11 194 lbs. There are other things to like though: a quick release, good touch, and dual-threat ability, as 247Sports writes. He didn’t wow at the spring game, going just 11/23 for 146 yards and an interception. Brian Kelly has made it clear in the offseason that Pyne is the main competition for Jack Coan, thanks to the inexperience of Tyler Buchner and the injury of Brendon Clark.

Tyler Buchner

Despite his inexperience, Buchner is the most talented QB competing for the starting spot. The San Diego native tore up HS competition, ranking No. 1 in the country in total yards in 2019 the last time he saw the field (no season in 2020 due to COVID-19 in California). He’s a former lacrosse player, so the incoming freshman is a superb athlete. He’s adept at extending plays and throwing on the run. His upside is tremendous and Brian Kelly has to be drooling at the potential for Buchner. When we talk about true upgrades in terms of talent under center, Buchner is the guy.

It was the true freshman who showed out during the spring game, completing six of nine passes for 140 yards while leading the Irish to the only two touchdown drives of the day, rushing for one of them on his own. Not bad for someone who hadn’t played true organized football in a year and a half. While I think it’s unlikely that Buchner sees the field in 2021, the talent could be enough for Kelly to ditch the safer/older options to see if Buchner could make a real difference.

Writer

-By: TJ Mathewson

We made it. Thankfully, we haven’t suffered through a normal bowl season due to the number of teams opting out. Outside of Coastal Carolina-Liberty, there hasn’t been much to remember from this bowl season. However, we finally get the CFP Semifinals on New Years Day. Let’s see what we have here.

#2 Clemson vs #3 Ohio State

This is deja vu. On one hand, we get a rematch of last year! On the other, there’s no way this game can be good as the one we had last year. The fast start from Ohio State, Trevor Lawrence literally putting the Tigers on his back, and lastly the unforgettable fourth quarter. You know Justin Fields hasn’t forgotten that interception in the end zone. Can he redeem himself? Let’s examine.

This is going to be another fantastic dual of quarterbacks. We saw how much of a difference Trevor Lawrence makes to the Clemson program with the stomping of Notre Dame in the ACC Championship. Outside of his stellar 22-4 TD-INT and his nearly 10.0 YPA, his legs are what really made the difference these last two seasons. Just ask the Buckeyes what they thought when they chased him on that 67-yard touchdown run last year. 

Lawrence carries the ball when his team needs it the most. In the ACC Championship game vs Notre Dame, he torched the Irish on the ground for 90 yards on 14 carries. His previous season-high was just 41 yards. He ran for 107 yards against the Buckeyes last year.

Containing Lawrence and Travis Etienne are going to be the key. When both of them are clicking, Clemson is almost impossible to stop. Etienne averaged under 2 YPC in the first game vs Notre Dame. In the rematch? Over 12 YPC. Pretty strong correlation there.

The Buckeyes have been really stout against the run this season, a top-ten unit in yards/game. It’s through the air the Buckeyes have struggled at times this year, ranking in the bottom third of yards allowed(261.3). That’s with All-American corner Shaun Wade, who was ejected on a controversial targeting call the last time the two played.

I expect Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell to have plenty of opportunities through the air, and watch out for Etienne out of the backfield too. He scored the go-ahead touchdown on a pretty play design through the air last year.

The biggest question of this game is how will Justin Fields’ thumb injury affect him? We saw what it did in the Big Ten title game, he was an erratic 11/27 with two interceptions, probably the worst game he’s played as a Buckeye. He dismissed all concern for his injury saying he would be ready to go, I’ll believe it when I see it.

Fields threw two of three interceptions for the season against this Clemson defense last year, and the Tigers will be ready to pounce again if Fields has an off day. If Fields is on, only the guy wearing #16 on the other side is as electric through the air.

We saw what a healthy Clemson defense did to Notre Dame, totally stuffing the Irish for four quarters, and unlike the Buckeyes defense, the pass defense is pretty darn good.

FIelds will get Chris Olave back for Friday’s showdown, he missed him sorely in the Big Ten title game. If you remember, it was a miscommunication between Olave and Fields that caused the junior quarterback to throw the game-ending interception last year. 

The run game will be alive and well for Ohio State. Trey Sermon carried the Buckeye offense with over 300 yards on the ground against Northwestern. Clemson has been stout against the run all season.

I really want this game to mirror last year, but we won’t get that lucky. The Buckeyes aren’t as good as last year and it will show on the field.

PREDICTION: CLEMSON 38 OHIO STATE 28

#1 Alabama vs #4 Notre Dame

I’m going to keep this one a little shorter than the other ones, I don’t think Notre Dame has a chance.

The #1 vs #4 has turned into an annual beatdown for whoever is lucky enough to snag that last playoff spot. I’m old enough to remember when the #4 seed won two of the first four CFP Titles (Ohio State in 2014 and Alabama in 2017). Since then, this has been nothing more than a routine slaughter. I’m not expecting anything different this year.

You cannot blame Notre Dame. I thought they were pretty clearly the fourth-best team in the country when it was all said and done, this is just more of the dominance at the top of college football with Clemson, Alabama, and Ohio State.

I have zero faith in any team to stop this Alabama offense. It doesn’t matter who the Crimson Tide have played, it hasn’t stopped Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, and Najee Harris. How many more times will we see the best QB, RB, and WR all on the same team? Not often. The Tide offense was unstoppable against Florida. 50+ is expected every time this group gets on the field.

The Irish defense has been really good this year, led by All-American LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and safety Kyle Hamilton. They might get off to a hot start and perhaps force a turnover, as they did against Clemson in the ACC title game, but there’s too much firepower on that Alabama offense.

Ian Book might be able to find some holes on that Alabama defense. The Tide have looked vulnerable on defense at times this year, allowing 46 to Florida in the SEC Title Game and 48 to Ole Miss in October.  I would imagine Nick Saban has his defense a little more fired up after the way they were shredded in the second half against Kyle Trask.

Book will need to create some magic, and I just don’t think he can do it.

PREDICTION: ALABAMA 48 NOTRE DAME 14

Writer

-By: TJ Mathewson

The ghosts of Bowl Championship Series/New Year's Six bowls past haunt the Fighting Irish once again at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Notre Dame fell to Clemson 30-3 in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Saturday evening.

In his postgame press conference, Irish head coach Brian Kelly said that he and his team were disappointed by the loss.

“We came here to win a football game, and we did not do the things necessary to beat a very good team,” Kelly said.

After a valiant 3-3 battle in the first quarter, lackluster ball protection cost Notre Dame the opportunity of moving onto the National Championship Game.

Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell recovered a fumble committed by Irish quarterback Ian Book in the first quarter. The turnover set up a 31-yard drive that would produce a 40-yard field goal made by Greg Huegel.

Notre Dame's only score came in response to Huegel’s field goal. Book went 4-for-5 for 37 yards and recorded 11 rushing yards on that drive.

Irish kicker Justin Yoon tied the game at 3-3 with a 28-yard field goal with 4:31 left in the first quarter.

The stalemate ended in the second quarter as the Irish secondary gave up its first big pass play of the season when Clemson freshman wide receiver Justyn Ross scored a 52-yard touchdown reception from freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Notre Dame lineman Jerry Tillery blocked the extra point attempt, which was the lone Irish highlight of the period.

The Irish defense lost their footing in the second quarter when key defensive players Julian Love, Julian Okwara, and Alohi Gilman were injured.

Love’s replacement, cornerback Donte Vaughn became a vulnerable target for the Clemson passing game. The Tigers scored 20 unanswered points in the second quarter alone.

Clemson’s Ross scored his second touchdown of the game with a 42-yard reception with 3:12 remaining in the first half.

Wide receiver Tee Higgins would go on to score on a one-handed catch that was deflected by Donte Vaughn with two seconds remaining in the first half. The 19-yard score gave Clemson a 23-3 halftime lead.

The Notre Dame defense allowed a combined 61 yards during Clemson’s second quarter scoring spree.

Coach Kelly described the Tiger offense as " opportunistic."

Love did return in the third quarter from his head injury. However, it was too little, too late as Clemson running back Travis Etienne ran for a 62-yard score to make it 30-3 with 2:04 left in the third period.

“They made the plays necessary to win in a game of this fashion,” Kelly said.

Even without suspended defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, Clemson successfully held Notre Dame’s offensive weapon running back Dexter Williams, and wide receiver Miles Boykin from making key plays for the Irish offense.

Williams finished the night with 54 rushing yards on 16 carries. Boykin led the Irish in receiving yards with 69.

In addition to the first quarter fumble, Book was sacked six times and threw 160 passing yards. Book completed 17 passes out of 34 attempts and rushed for 30 yards with one interception in the third quarter.

Trevor Lawrence completed 27 out of 39 pass attempts with three touchdown passes for 327 passing yards.

The Tigers outrushed the Irish 211-88. Etienne led the Tigers in rushing with 109 yards on 14 carries.

“I feel terrible for our seniors,” Kelly said. “They put us on the brink of a championship. It's now up to everybody else that has eligibility in that locker room to get this football team to a championship.”

By Brenden Curry