Ian Book has had a very good final season at Notre Dame but his last month has been even a step better than that as it began by him helping to lead the Irish to an upset of No. 1 Clemson and has been huge in keeping national championship dreams alive.
He was stellar again on senior day as he threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more in Notre Dame’s 45-21 win over Syracuse in which the Irish moved to 10-0.
Was it Book’s best game of the season?
We could debate that but the Manning Award took notice, naming him the nation’s top quarterback of last weekend.
Here is the full release from the University of Notre Dame on the honor:
NOTRE DAME, Indiana — After being named a Manning Award Star of the Week, Notre Dame graduate student quarterback Ian Book has been selected as the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week for his performance in the 45-21 win over Syracuse, in which he became the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history (30 wins as a starter).
He was selected as the quarterback of the week from a group of eight FBS quarterbacks: Justin Fields (No. 4 Ohio State), Layne Hatcher (Arkansas State), Preston Hutchinson (Eastern Michigan), Mac Jones (No. 1 Alabama), Drew Plitt (Ball State), Brock Purdy (No. 7 Iowa State) and Kyle Trask (No. 6 Florida)
Book completed a perfect record as a starting quarterback in Notre Dame Stadium going 15-0 as a starter at home, tying the most wins at home by a Notre Dame starting passer.
Book went 24-of-37 for 285 yards and three touchdowns, adding eight rushes for 53 yards and two touchdowns. He accounted for five touchdowns vs. Syracuse, the most by any Power 5 player (any position) on the weekend. No FBS player accounted for more touchdowns on the week than Book’s five, which tied his career-high and was the most by an Irish player since he passed for five touchdowns vs. Navy in 2019.
With eight rushing touchdowns (including two Saturday) this season, Book ranks third among all Power 5 quarterbacks in season rushing touchdowns. With his rushing touchdowns, Book moved into fourth all-time in Notre Dame quarterback rushing touchdowns with 14. His eight rushing touchdowns in 2020 tie for fifth all-time among Irish QBs in a single season.
Entering Saturday, Syracuse’s defense allowed an average of 251.8 passing yards per game. Book surpassed that mark in the first half alone with 252 passing yards. With an interception vs. Syracuse, Book capped the longest streak by an Irish QB in program history with 266 attempts without a pick. It was the longest active streak in the FBS.
Book was responsible for 19 of Notre Dame’s 27 first downs on the day (15 passing, four rushing), and all but one of the Irish’s 15 first downs in the first half (the only other Notre Dame first down in the first half was by penalty).
The Irish return to the field Saturday, Dec. 19 for the ACC Championship game, the first conference championship game in Notre Dame’s one-year history of playing as a conference team.