In the middle of its best season in six years, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish just got some bad news that could put a dent in its undefeated record.
Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book suffered a rib injury late in the team’s 31-21 win over Northwestern and will miss this Saturday’s game against Florida State. (RELATED: Here Are The Best Gambling Picks For Week 11 Of College Football)
Book is 6-0 since taking over as the team’s starting quarterback, and has given Notre Dame a dynamic passing game that it previously lacked under quarterback Brandon Wimbush. The good news for the Fighting Irish is that Book should be back for the team’s showdown against 13th-ranked Syracuse next week.
SOURCE: Notre Dame QB Ian Book is out this week against Florida State. The Athletic first reported the news, noting that Book sustained a rib injury this past week against Northwestern. A source tells me Book is expected back next week against Syracuse… https://t.co/Mr7JI4M7an
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) November 8, 2018
While the third-ranked Fighting Irish should be able to survive a down Florida State team with Wimbush, they certainly need Book back healthy for the remainder of the season.
Wimbush has talent and has a record of 13-3 as a starter, but his inability to improve in the passing game could doom the Irish if they need him down the stretch.
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly initially planned to use a two-quarterback system this season, but Book’s ascension quickly ended those plans. Now, the Fighting Irish will once again need Wimbush to come through if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
We’ll see what they have up their sleeves.