Fansided

25 tricks and treats of the 2018 college football season

By Cody Williams

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 13: Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) scrambles to the sidelines during the college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Pittsburgh Panthers on October 13, 2018, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 13: Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Ian Book (12) scrambles to the sidelines during the college football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Pittsburgh Panthers on October 13, 2018, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 27: Notre Dame (12) Ian Book (QB) celebrates after a touchdown was scored late in the second quarter during a college football game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 27, 2018, at SDCCU Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 27: Notre Dame (12) Ian Book (QB) celebrates after a touchdown was scored late in the second quarter during a college football game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 27, 2018, at SDCCU Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Treat: Notre Dame and Ian Book

How many times have we fallen for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in recent years only to be sorely disappointed in the result? That seems to be their calling card under Brian Kelly, even if his overall success rate is still quite impressive. At the end of the day, we all want to see the Irish in the College Football Playoff mix and they’ve continually fallen short of that over the past few years.

After beating up the Michigan Wolverines to open the season, there was hope that would be rectified in 2018, but those hopes were quickly dashed with Brandon Wimbush’s struggles in the subsequent weeks as the Irish only beat Ball State and Vanderbilt by a combined 13 points. That left questions for this team as a whole, but Kelly found the answer in a big way by benching Wimbush in favor of one Ian Book.

Since that change at quarterback, Notre Dame has looked the part of a possible title contender. Their defensive prowess was never in question as they have one of the most talented and well-coached groups in the country on that side of the ball. With Book, however, their offense has been absolutely lights-out — with the exception of a tight game against Pittsburgh.

Book has been a revelation for this offense and for the team as a whole. With him at quarterback, they are at the heights that the program is expected to be at, and it’s been pleasant to see that change do that for the Irish.

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