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Notre Dame Football: 3 Bold Predictions for 2020 Season

By Connor McJunkin

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 23: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball after an interception during a game against the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium on November 23, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 40-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 23: Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball after an interception during a game against the Boston College Eagles at Notre Dame Stadium on November 23, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Boston College 40-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to pass the football against the New Mexico Lobos at Notre Dame Stadium on September 14, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 14: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to pass the football against the New Mexico Lobos at Notre Dame Stadium on September 14, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

Ian Book Will Set School Single Season Passing Touchdown Record

Coming in hot, I know. In 2019, Book threw 34 touchdown passes which was the second most in a single-season in Notre Dame history. Brady Quinn sits atop that list with his 37 touchdowns in 2006.

Book matching his touchdown output from a year ago will be hard enough, but when you factor in two less regular season games, no G5 opponents, and the loss of Chase Claypool, the feat seems pretty unreasonable.

To accomplish this, Book will have to average 3 touchdown passes a game assuming the Irish play 12 games with their full 10-game season plus the ACC Championship and a bowl game.

A lot of this prediction will lie in the hands of Book’s development and improvement heading into his fifth and final season. While the wide receiver corps is young and has a lot to prove, the talent and athleticism is there and as a group, could be one of the deepest that Brian Kelly has had in South Bend.

If Book does finally have his breakout season that most were expecting last season, then all bets are off. Book is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country, working under new OC Tommy Rees, and throwing passes behind one of the most talented and experienced offensive lines in the NCAA.

And while their are no New Mexico and Bowling Green-type matchups in 2020, the ACC doesn’t harbor many juggernaut secondaries that should shut down Notre Dame’s passing attack. In 2020, the Irish will face the three worst ACC defenses in terms of passing yards allowed per game in Syracuse, FSU, and Boston College. They will also face the three ACC teams who allowed the most passing touchdowns a year ago in Wake Forest (25), Boston College (28), and Louisville (29).

So bottom line, the tools are there for Book to put together one heck of a final season with the Irish. It will come down to consistency and those around him stepping up and making an impact.

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