Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Brian Kelly finally addresses his QB plans for Notre Dame's opener

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:47 p.m. ET

Stewart Mandel

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame fans have been waiting all offseason to learn which of the Irish’s talented quarterbacks, junior Malik Zaire or sophomore DeShone Kizer, would lead the offense come Sept. 4 against Texas.

On Wednesday at the program’s preseason Media Day, coach Brian Kelly went ahead and gave his answer: Both will take the field against the ‘Horns.

“If I list [the roster’s] top five playmakers, they’re [both] in it,” said Kelly. “So my ultimate decision was I can’t put one of those guys on the sideline against Texas.”

Zaire started for the Irish in the 2014 Music City Bowl against LSU and the first two games of last season, turning in a near-flawless performance in a season-opening 38-3 rout of Texas. But after Zaire suffered a season-ending ankle injury Week 2 against Virginia, Kizer, then a redshirt freshman, came in and threw the game-winning touchdown against the Cavaliers and went 8-3 as starter the rest of the season.

Kelly came out of spring practice adamant he would name one or the other a definitive starter. That changed when the Irish returned for preseason camp.

“These two guys are just too good,” he said Wednesday. “I watched them in practice and they’re making plays, and then I watched the guys around them and they’re just not as good. It was counterintuitive for me” to keep one or the other on the bench all game.

Kelly did not specify how the rotation would work, other than it would not be predetermined that one or the other plays specific quarters. He also said he’s open to playing both on the field at the same time.

Kizer finished last season a 63 percent passer who threw for 2,884 yards, 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing for 520 yards. In two games, Zaire went 26-of-40 for 428 yards, four TDs and zero picks while rushing for 103 yards.

Kelly said through 257 practice reps so far, the two have combined for just two interceptions.

Kelly’s perceived luxury at quarterback calls to mind Ohio State coach Urban Meyer’s dilemma last season with established starters Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller (who moved to receiver) all returning from the previous year’s national title season. Jones started Week 1, but Meyer spent much of the season juggling him and Barrett before the latter finally took over for good.

“It’s never easy playing two quarterbacks, it’s much easier playing one,” said Kelly. “But we’re in the business of winning football games. If it’s a little harder on us, we can make it work if the net result is winning. My job is to win, and my belief is playing both of them gives us the best chance to win.”