With Book hurt, Irish plan to start Wimbush
Brandon Wimbush will start at quarterback for Notre Dame in Saturday’s home game against Florida State instead of Ian Book, who is nursing an undisclosed injury, two people familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.
Book is not expected to play after taking a hard hit to the back and ribs during last week’s 31-21 victory at Northwestern, according to the people who spoke Thursday on condition of anonymity because no official announcement had been made.
Book replaced Wimbush as the starter in the fourth game of the season for the Fighting Irish, who are undefeated through nine games and third in the College Football Playoff rankings. The junior has completed 74.5 percent of his passes this season, tops in the Football Bowl Subdivision, for 1,824 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.
With Book starting, the Fighting Irish have averaged 38 points per game. They averaged 23.3 in Wimbush’s three starts.
Wimbush, a senior, was Notre Dame’s starting quarterback last season and in a trio of close wins to start this season, but his inconsistent and inaccurate passing led to coach Brian Kelly making the switch to Book. In his Irish career, Wimbush has completed 50.8 percent of his passes and thrown 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has been an effective runner, though, totaling 1,044 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground.
Notre Dame goes into its final home game of the season looking to stay in position to reach the four-team playoff for the first time. The Seminoles (4-5) have struggled to defend the pass this season, allowing 23 touchdown throws and 282 passing yards per game, but they have been stingy against the run, limiting opposing rushers to an average of 2.84 yards per carry.
“We watched film on them throughout the entire year,” first-year Florida State coach Willie Taggart said of the Irish. “We’ve seen Wimbush play and know what to expect out of him, too. The offense hasn’t changed much from that standpoint.”
Florida State has its own uncertainty at quarterback after sophomore James Blackman filled in for junior Deondre Francois last week. Taggart has been noncommittal about his starter, but Francois has said he expects to start.
Blackman has completed 33 of 51 passes for 510 yards, five touchdowns and an interception this season, when Francois is 171 of 281 for 2,039 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Francois has rushed for two scores.
The Irish finish the season with games against No. 13 Syracuse (7-2) at Yankee Stadium in New York and at Southern California (5-4).