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Ian Book had a dominant day in his first quarter start this season, while Notre Dame, number 8, defeated Wake Forest 56-27 on Saturday.
Book was 25-for-34 for 325 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also ran for 43 yards in 10 carries with three touchdowns.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly had said all week – including Saturday morning – that Book and Brandon Wimbush would both play against Wake Forest, but Wimbush did not take any photos in the quarter on Saturday. Phil Jurkovec arrived late in the game.
The Fighting Irish (4-0) beat 24 points for the first time this season and won their first victory by more than one possession. They won a total of 566 rushing yards, surpassing the previous record in the middle of the third quarter.
"It's hard to take a quarterback like Brandon Wimbush," Kelly said. "This is an exceptional player, but we felt we needed this kind of urgency, and our attack showed us today."
Kelly said that he always wanted to find ways to use Wimbush.
"With both, I think we have a pretty dynamic attack," said the coach.
Notre Dame had scored in her first three games this season under Wimbush – with two touchdowns and a goal on the field – but failed to score in the first try on Saturday with Book. But after three purposeless possessions, Book and the offense of Our Lady began. Book finished the first half of 16-on-24 for 189 yards and a touchdown, and also scored for the Fighting Irish who led 28-13 at the break.
Book led Notre Dame to a 33-10 loss to North Carolina last year when Wimbush was injured and led a second-half rally in a Citrus Bowl victory over LSU. He completed all three passes last week against Vanderbilt for 13 yards and a touchdown.
ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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