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The No.2 Notre Dame came close with a shot in his first conference championship and a second college football playoff appearance with his 45-31 victory at Boston College on Saturday.
The win takes the Fighting Irish to 8-0 overall and follows one of the biggest wins in the program’s history, winning then-No. 1 Clemson 47-40 in double overtime to move up to # 1 in the ACC standings in their rare season as a full member of the ACC. That game was highlighted by a career performance from Ian Book, and the senior quarterback was the scenario again on Saturday against Boston College.
Book went 20 of 28 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns while totaling 85 rushing yards and one more score. He did a great job avoiding the Eagles passing rush with his feet, extending play and keeping his eyes down to connect with receivers. This was never more evident than in the first half after being pulled back in the second and scoring off the 10-yard line as Book eluded Boston College defenders before connecting with Ben Skowronek in the ‘one of three touchdowns for the tight end.
Book’s performance highlights one of the most interesting wrinkles in the College Football Playoff race, which is a Notre Dame team reaching their peak offensively as the season turns to crown a champion over the next two years. month. Ground play was always going to be the bedrock of how the Fighting Irish attacked on offense, but now we have the emergence of game-changing catchers with Skowronek and wide receiver Avery Davis.
What we have seen from Book over the past two weeks is not the effort of a game manager but of a game winner. He’s ready to take risks in scoring position while trusting his own talents and confrontations for his receivers. The Notre Dame defense has gone for a folding but unbroken approach to achieve excellent results over the past three seasons, and now it is not complemented by an attack that avoids mistakes, but can jack up the score behind a great college quarterback. .
Brian Kelly has spoken in recent weeks about the importance for the team to “raise the level of competition” not only to fight a team with the talent and depth of the Tigers, but to maintain that high level of play week after. week. in pursuit of a championship. To win that top-five showdown would be great, “but if you lose to BC it doesn’t mean anything,” Kelly said at the start of Clemson’s game week. It’s clear that while the Tigers got Notre Dame’s full attention in the weeks leading up to last week’s result, the potential disappointment that was averted on Saturday night was also avoided.
CBS Sports was with you throughout updating this story with the latest in the game. Keep it locked here for live updates, highlights and more on Saturday afternoon.
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