When Tyler Buchner sat down at the Rose Bowl media day after the 2023 season, the then-Alabama quarterback’s football career appeared to be reaching its end. He had already decided to transfer back to Notre Dame, where his career started, to play lacrosse.

He started one game for the Crimson Tide during his season in Tuscaloosa, struggled in the first half against South Florida, and never got a second chance. He found a bit of peace on the scout team, but was excited to put the chapter behind him.

“Just didn’t play well,” Buchner told AL.com at the time. “It’s pretty simple. You have to play well to have success in this game. You don’t play well, life’s hard.”

The move back to South Bend went beautifully. Buchner and the Fighting Irish won a national title, he appeared in 11 games and was a major defensive contributor, playing the sport for the first time since high school.

Buchner lived with his sister for his first semester back. He enjoyed his academic program, and being back at the school he considered home.

After a 2022 season as Notre Dame’s quarterback where he was hampered by injuries, and the rough year at Alabama, his joy had returned. Eventually, Buchner walked into Fighting Irish football coach Marcus Freeman’s office, and the conversation produced an unexpected opportunity.

“I had so much fun,” Buchner told AL.com Saturday as his Notre Dame football team prepared for the national championship in Atlanta. “To put it short and sweet, I had so much fun playing lacrosse and playing sports again that I basically said ‘Screw it, let’s play football.’”

Freeman let Buchner come back, as a walk-on. He also changed positions, moving to wide receiver.

Throughout the season, Buchner helped signal in plays, and worked with the Irish scout team.

“He’s been a consummate teammate in everything he’s been asked to do,” ND offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said of Buchner Saturday. “Came back into the program wanting to contribute in any way he possibly could, demonstrated every piece of that by his actions.”

As Notre Dame prepares to face Ohio State on Monday, 2024 seems like a dream season. However, early on, any title hopes seemed out of reach.

The Fighting Irish lost at home to Northern Illinois, a Mid-American Conference team that went on to finish the year with a Famous Idaho Potato Bowl win. In defeat, ND quarterback and Alabama native Riley Leonard threw for just 163 yards and two interceptions.

At that moment, Buchner was able to help.

“(Buchner) kind of shared with me his story and the regrets he had had in the past and how to be a Notre Dame quarterback,” Leonard said Saturday. “Who to listen to, who not to listen to. Just these little things about adversity kind of just help me out a lot.”

The veteran walk-on thought back to ND’s 2022 Marshall loss. It was Buchner’s second start for the Fighting Irish before a shoulder injury forced him out for 10 games, and he went 18-for-32 passing with two picks.

“I was in that position,” Buchner said. “It’s hard. There’s not a lot of people who get it. I just offered to be a resource for him.”

Notre Dame hasn’t lost since. Leonard has been solid for the Irish, throwing for 2,606 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Buchner has had chances to make an impact on the field, on special teams. He converted a fake field goal run as the holder against Georgia Tech, and threw a completion on a fake punt vs. Southern Cal.

He’s out of eligibility for lacrosse, but will have another year to play football for the Fighting Irish. On Monday, Buchner can cap off a year of rediscovering his love of sports by becoming the rare double national champion.

“I think it’s just a credit to the leadership at the school and coach Freeman and coach (Kevin) Corrigan’s lacrosse team,” Buchner said. “How great a job they’ve done with the program and the players. It’s also a credit to this team. These guys are unbelievably talented and work incredibly hard… It’s just a cool experience to be part of both.”

The national championship is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT Monday on ESPN.