Could Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book end up at Oklahoma?

The Notre Dame quarterback had an inconsistent year, with many Irish fans calling for him to be benched. Could he salvage his NFL dreams by transferring?

The struggles of Notre Dame quarterbacks under Brian Kelly are well-documented. Quarterbacks seem to plateau in South Bend, and it’s been a while since an Irish signal-caller made an impact at the NFL level.

Could Ian Book change that? Possibly, but he may need to change uniforms first.

After the emotional beating he took from the Irish “faithful” after the Michigan game, nobody would be surprised to see Book finish his collegiate career elsewhere — especially with a string of talented recruits breathing down his neck on the depth chart.

Looking at what is returning and leaving next season, the argument can be made that Book will not be able to improve statistically from 2019 to 2020. That’s not to say Ian Book will become less talented — he just doesn’t have a whole lot of proven options returning to South Bend in 2020.

Enter Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Over the past three seasons, Oklahoma has been firmly in the College Football Playoff mix on the backs of three transfer quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Jalen Hurts. Mayfield and Murray won Heisman trophies and were taken No. 1 overall in their respective drafts. Hurts is projected to be drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

None of those were projected possibilities when those players arrived on campus in Norman.

Okahoma head coach Lincoln Riley has a system that wins at the collegiate level, transfers well to the modern NFL, and prepares quarterbacks to play at the next level.

Ian Book is an accurate passer, an above-average athlete at the position, and a smart guy — just like Mayfield, Murray and Hurts. He has the ability to step into the Oklahoma offense and excel immediately. He was even compared to Baker Mayfield earlier this year by Fox personality Colin Cowherd.

Taking all allegiances out of the thought process and looking at what is best for Ian Book, transferring to Oklahoma for his final season of eligibility almost makes too much sense. He’ll have a Notre Dame degree. He will have (likely) led his team to consecutive ten-win seasons, including a College Football Playoff berth. He’ll have just as good a shot —  and possibly even better — at making the College Football Playoff playing his last year in Norman as he would in South Bend.

Why wouldn’t Ian Book make the move?

Honestly, I would — and I wouldn’t think twice.

The only thing keeping Book at Notre Dame are his potential loyalties and thoughts on whether or not he has any unfinished business in an Irish uniform. And you know Lincoln Riley — if he’s still the Oklahoma coach in 2020 — would love to have another seasoned veteran as the trigger man in his high-powered offense.

Bottom line: Ian Book has little to lose by leaving Notre Dame after this season and everything to gain by transferring to a program like Oklahoma and playing for Lincoln Riley. Don’t be shocked if it happens.