SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Ian Book's final game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday was one for the record books — both for him and the second-ranked Fighting Irish.
"Bittersweet, definitely a little emotional but I just took it all in," said the fifth-year senior quarterback after throwing three touchdown passes and running for two more as the Irish rolled to a 45-21 victory against Syracuse. Next up is a rematch with No. 4 Clemson in the ACC title game.
It was Book's 30th victory as a starter, the most ever for a Notre Dame quarterback. The Irish (10-0, 9-0 ACC, CFP No. 2) ran their winning streak to 16 games, best in the country, and their home winning streak to 24.
"It's hard doing any 24 things consecutively — I have trouble doing two in a row," coach Brian Kelly joked after his team provided him with his 102nd victory in South Bend, three behind all-time Irish leader Knute Rockne. His last four Irish teams have won at least 10 games a season and are 43-6.
"It was about finishing for our seniors with a win at home and getting Ian into the record books as the winningest quarterback at Notre Dame," added Kelly, who said it wasn't Book's best effort during his 30-3 run as a starter, leaving former Irish quarterbacks Tom Clements, Ron Powlus and Brady Quinn in his wake.
Book was 24 for 37 for 285 yards, with touchdown passes of 21, 28 and 26 to Javon McKinley, who had seven receptions for 111 yards. The Irish quarterback also scored on runs of 28 and 17 yards.
"It's a dream come true to be able to attend Notre Dame and have a good career," Book said. "To be able to never have lost at home (15-0 as a starter), it's really a team award rather than an individual one. I want to win a national championship, and if you hear my name, that is what you think of."
A national title, Notre Dame's first since 1988, is perhaps three victories away. Next up for the Irish, who are playing this season in a pandemic as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, is the Dec. 19 league championship game in Charlotte, North Carolina.
