Two quarterbacks of a similar ilk in the CFB sphere have almost had a parallel last couple of years. The curious cases of Quinn Ewers and Carson Beck. Cast your minds back to August. Both were frontrunners for the Heisman. A treacherous 4 months on, their skywards-trending futures have been rendered inconspicuous.

Beck has officialised his placement on the NFL draft board after much deliberation. A season-ending injury fast-forwarded the decision. Ewers, though, remains an integral part of a Natty contender as he traverses his final few games in Texas burnt orange. Owing to his preoccupation, Ewers is yet to announce a final decision on what he’s doing next.

After a relatively poor junior year, which showed tangible signs of a regression, his NFL stock has depleted. As a result, he’s reportedly pondering a return to college. It wouldn’t be at the Longhorns, with his deputy Arch Manning poised to take over by all accords. A return would have to transpire away from Austin. A potentially regressing Quinn Ewers is still better than most QBs at this level, so there are naturally suitors prepared to offer him tenancy.

A variety of teams have been floated, although the two schools gaining the most traction are Notre Dame and, curiously, Michigan State. It’s been reported that Michigan State has offered Ewers $4 million in NIL remuneration for a year of his services. This was relayed by William Blackwell on his namesake YouTube channel. While the details around the legitimacy of MSU’s involvement remain fuzzy, Blackwell also reiterated Notre Dame’s interest. Marcus Freeman’s Fighting Irish will imminently have a vacancy under center after QB1 Riley Leonard himself leaves for April’s Draft. The reporting around Ewers and ND picked up further steam due to a national analyst’s rather cryptic messaging.

FOX’s Colin Cowherd said, “Notre Dame are in the portal for a quarterback at the college level that many of you have seen play for a big program. I won’t give that away yet. But don’t be surprised if a very, very well-known college quarterback transfers to Notre Dame…once the playoffs [conclude].”

That lines up with Quinn Ewers rather perfectly, down to the fact he’s suggested he won’t make a decision until after the playoffs. Marcus Freeman already possesses a roster worth $8.6 million. This figure will increase incrementally if he is to onboard Ewers. However, this proverbial one-year fling could be a win-win for both parties.

Scratch beneath the surface and Quinn Ewers to Notre Dame makes a lot of sense

Pending an unexpected implosion against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame have shown they’re for real. The Fighting Irish are legit contenders for the Natty. Their bounce-back since that fated Northern Illinois game is an omen of that. Riley Leonard has served them well but is a different archetype of QB from Quinn Ewers. If Notre Dame were to land Ewers, they’d be trading an elite rushing threat for an elite passing threat. This is equal parts concerning and exciting.

Quinn Ewers will open a more nuanced offence for Notre Dame, who may need it when they face up fellow contenders and contender-adjacent defenses. Plus, Marcus Freeman could do a lot worse than switching one experienced vet for another. A seamless transition shall be key to keeping the program at its current standard. For Ewers, the advantage is two-fold.

He gets a change in scenery with another contender and can build back his NFL stature. It wouldn’t be blasphemous to say the pressure of Arch Manning breathing down his shoulder has perhaps seeped into Ewers’ performances. That won’t be the case in South Bend. Also, if the figures are to be believed, he stands to make more money in NIL next year than he will on a rookie contract in the NFL as a Day 2 pick, which is his consensus stock right now.

With him still dispositioned as QB1 for Steve Sarkisian, he’ll want to flush out the hypotheticals and focus on the present. That said, this development would boil over quickly in case either Texas or Notre Dame are knocked out of the CFP. Watch this space.