Just as we had hoped, the fourth quarter between Notre Dame and Syracuse mostly was anticlimactic. The only drama left was whether Kyren Williams would reach 1,000 rushing yards for the season, and he did exactly that. Oh, and Chris Tyree ran for a 94-yard touchdown, the third-longest in program history. It was the cherry on top of a 45-21 Notre Dame win.
The Irish (10-0, 9-0) did not get off to the best start, but once the Orange (1-10, 1-9) began playing like they’ve been known to play this season, all bets were off. Though Cooper Lutz countered Tyree with an 80-yard touchdown run, hardly anyone batted an eye. After all, the game was long out of reach at that point.
The emotional high point came when Ian Book, now the winningest quarterback in program history, left a game at Notre Dame Stadium for the last time. The sparse crowd gave him a standing ovation, and Book received congratulations everywhere on the sidelines. No, it wasn’t a Rudy Ruettiger moment, but he might as well have deserved one. He never once lost a game in The House That Rockne Built.
Now, the Irish will wait to see who they play for the ACC championship two weeks from now. It’s going to be a challenge whether they get Clemson or Miami. Still, the Irish have answered every challenge so far this season. If there’s any team in college football capable of meeting the highest of expectations, it’s this one.