Tyler Buchner transfers: Alabama, Florida among SEC schools to watch for QB

Update (April 27, 11:23 a.m. EST): Buchner announced that he committed to Alabama, reuniting with offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and adding another element to the Crimson Tide's quarterback race this coming preseason.

The spring college football transfer portal window got a new, headliner name recently when Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner announced his intention to enter the portal and try his luck at a new school heading into the 2023 season.

With that news going public, speculation immediately turned up surrounding where the quarterback could land in the fall, and right away the rumor mill turned to certain names coming from the SEC who would be in the market for a quarterback.

Especially considering the conference's rule that forces any player who transfers after Feb. 1 from one SEC school to another to sit out a year and wait his turn. That places a heavy premium on SEC teams to look outside the league for quality transfers.

Buchner hails from California and was a high-profile addition for the Fighting Irish back during the 2021 college football recruiting cycle. But since his arrival, Buchner has had to deal with being a backup, losing his head coach (when Brian Kelly bolted for LSU), working in a new coach, finally earning the starting role, suffering a shoulder injury, losing his offensive coordinator, and then having to compete for the job once again.

Sam Hartman appears to have the lead in the race to become Notre Dame's starting quarterback, moving Buchner to try his luck elsewhere. Where could he land?

Tyler Buchner enters college football transfer portal: Schools to watch for the QB

Notre Dame: In his announcement, Buchner said that after speaking with Marcus Freeman, it's entirely possible that he could just stay with the Irish and go into the summer in a competition with Hartman, but after the veteran transfer played so well in the spring game, that could prove difficult.

Alabama: A development to watch here as the Crimson Tide are looking to break in a new quarterback to replace Bryce Young, but so far not getting any definitive returns on either Jalen Milroe or Ty Simpson, neither of whom shined in the A-Day Game. Plus, the presence of Tommy Rees — the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame last season who took the same job at Alabama this year — could be decisive for the quarterback, not to mention the play-caller in a potential reunion. But is he a credible upgrade from the team's existing two options?

Auburn: Hugh Freeze enters his debut season on The Plains looking at a major roster overhaul at several positions, not to mention at quarterback. TJ Finley and Robby Ashford are competing for the job, but neither have definitively made the case so far. Freeze has hinted he's interested in looking for an option in the portal.

Florida: Another SEC power definitely in the market for a quarterback after losing Anthony Richardson to the NFL and not getting very positive returns yet on the two options currently in-house: Graham Mertz, the Wisconsin transfer, or Jack Miller, the Ohio State transfer from last offseason. Billy Napier said after the Gators spring game that he was looking for a quarterback in the transfer portal, and Buchner should be his best bet on that front.

In two seasons total, Buchner is 67 for 118 passing the ball (56.8 percent) for 949 yards with six touchdown passes and eight interceptions while posting an 8.0 ypa average.

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