Notre Dame Football: 3 takeaways from crushing loss to Cincinnati

1. Brian Kelly needs to make a decision and stabilize QB room

Notre Dame played more quarterbacks (3) on Saturday than touchdowns scored (2). Jack Coan started this game after leaving last week’s game with an ankle injury.

Coan was replaced for two drives midway through the first half by Tyler Buchner. Coan would return after Buchner’s interception, but then get benched again for Drew Pyne in the second half.

This sort of hot potato approach to the quarterback position is not sustainable for an entire season. Coan was an established starter two weeks ago, but Pyne’s performances have heated up this debate.

Irish fans seem like they would love for Pyne to be their guy. Boos were rained down when Pyne left the field for Buchner on a couple of plays.

Jack Coan is a veteran quarterback with some big game experience. However, he displays limited mobility which only becomes amplified by the offensive line playing poorly. With Pyne, they have a quarterback who combines Coan’s pocket passing ability and Buchner’s speed.

Whoever the guy may be going forward, Brian Kelly has to make a firm statement on who has the starting job. Not for the media or critics, but for his players and his fans.