The last time before Saturday that Notre Dame fielded the wide receivers/scout team quarterback Tyler Buchner threw a pass in a Notre Dame uniform, it was a 16-yard TD to the tight end Mitchell Evans That gave the Irish the lead late and for good in a 45-38 Gator Bowl victory over South Carolina to end the 2022 season.

He was the starting quarterback that day and was soon scheduled to transfer to Alabama, only to transfer back to ND this past January.

And in No. 5 ND’s 2024 regular-season finale on Saturday at USC, he was finally able to throw a pass in a game. As muscle memory would have it, it went to Evans. For 28 yards.

Because this play, which was a successful fake punt without a penalty in Irish territory, ultimately did not result in a score in a 49-35 scorefest won by the Irish heading into the College Football Playoff , is probably a game that will not find its way into Notre Dame football history.

Or maybe not in many actual game stories or columns about the highest-scoring game in the series’ 95-game history between cross-country rivals.

But it is something and SOMEONE The playoff opponents have to be on their guard, as Buchner also has a converted fake field goal run this season.

As far as actual game balls go, there were plenty of worthy candidates as the Irish put the exclamation point on an 11-1 regular season and a 10-game winning streak. It is our practice at Inside ND Sports to pick two. Here they are:

DEFENSE: Xavier Watts, safety

It is difficult to understand how the governing Bronko Nagurski Prize Not only was the winner not named a finalist again for this award, but also for any of the national individual awards.

But senior safety Xavier Watts showed off his All-America credentials again Saturday against the Trojans.

Watts recorded a team-high nine tackles, broke up a pass that thwarted a key fourth-down conversion attempt and secured a 100-yard pick-6 late in the fourth quarter to seal the Irish’s victory.

INJURY: Riley Leonard, quarterback

Had sophomore running back/hurdler Jeremiyah Love not left the game with a leg injury midway through the third quarter, he would be well on his way to securing the honor here. And his tag teammate Jadarian Price also provided strong arguments. But this one goes to the quarterback Riley Leonard This is in part because he continues to develop as a passer and still proves to be an elite runner.

The Duke transfer ran for 50 yards and tied his school record 14th rushing touchdown of the season. He also threw two touchdowns and completed 17 of 22 pass attempts for 155 yards with one interception.