
When it was announced that former Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey was entering the transfer portal a couple of weeks ago, it was anything but a surprise. With CJ Carr returning as the starter in 2026, and Minchey still having two years of eligibility remaining, he has a chance to find a new home and finally get the chance to be a starting signal caller. There has been a lot of speculation on potential landing spots since the Tennessee native chose to enter.
The portal officially opened on Friday, and there are already predictions flying in for Minchey. All of Chris Hummer, Matt Zenitz, and Tom Loy of 247 Sports have logged Crystal Ball predictions for Minchey to land with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Along with schools like Cincinnati and Boston College, Nebraska has been a program that has been linked to Minchey from the beginning. They offer a very interesting fit.
Have joined @mzenitz and @TomLoy247 with a @247Sports Crystal Ball pick in favor of Nebraska for Notre Dame QB transfer Kenny Minchey.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 2, 2026
Minchey ranks as the No. 40 overall player and No. 9 QB in the @247SportsPortal rankings. https://t.co/LUzIgdeczR pic.twitter.com/0pj1eW9ngp
With former Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola also in the portal, Minchey would have a clear path to starting with the Cornhuskers if he does officially land there. The team will also bring back freshman TJ Lateef to potentially compete. Due to his age and talent level, it feels like Minchey would have the clear edge in that battle for head coach Matt Rhule.
Before the 2025 season, Minchey and CJ Carr were locked up in a competitive battle to be the starting quarterback for Notre Dame. Many believed Minchey would get the nod heading down the stretch, but the younger Carr won out last minute for head coach Marcus Freeman.
Minchey is a talented pocket passer who also has the legs to create things outside of structure. While things didn’t work out for him in South Bend, it was more an issue of timing. He is a talented overall quarterback with loads of upside and two years of eligibility remaining. There is no reason why he shouldn’t develop into a very good starting signal caller on the Power Four level.
When Minchey was given opportunities to play for the Irish, he showed off his talent. In six games played, Minchey has completed 20 of 26 passes for 196 yards, while also rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries.
The 6-2, 208-pound passer was originally a member of the 2023 recruiting class for Notre Dame. On the 247 Sports Composite ranking, Minchey was rated as the No. 170 overall player, the No. 14 quarterback, and the No. 3 player in the state of Tennessee in the class.
He was originally committed to the Pitt Panthers before opting to flip to the Fighting Irish. Minchey redshirted during his first season to preserve a year of eligibility.
This story was originally published by A to Z Sports on Jan 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More must-reads:
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!