Notre Dame football: Do Irish QBs show up when the lights are brightest?

Sep 11, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) throws in the second quarter against the Toledo Rockets at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2021; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) throws in the second quarter against the Toledo Rockets at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – JANUARY 07: AJ McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with the Coach’s Trophy after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by a score of 42-14 to win the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – JANUARY 07: AJ McCarron #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates with the Coach’s Trophy after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish by a score of 42-14 to win the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship game at Sun Life Stadium on January 7, 2013, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: Do Irish QBs show up when the lights are brightest?

2012: #1 Notre Dame Vs. #2 Alabama (BCS National Championship Game)

  • Final Score: Alabama 42, Notre Dame 14
  • Quarterback: Everett Golson
  • Game Stats: 21/36 (58%), 270 yds, 1 TD, 1 int; 5 rushes, -7 yds, 1 TD

The Decision: ND was extremely outgunned in this game. From the opening kickoff, Alabama was the better team and wasted no time showing that fact to the world. It is tough to put this game on Golson entirely.

The Irish rushed for only 32 total yards and when you can’t rush the ball it makes the job for the defense very easy: they just have to defend the pass. Golson did his best, but the Irish were simply outplayed. Notre Dame was a run-first team in 2012. When that was shut down Golson was forced to play in a manner he had not done all year against the best team in the country.

It is very difficult to place much of the blame on him, though he still struggled when he could have taken advantage of a massive chance to win a national title.

The Grade: 5.8/10

2014: #5 Notre Dame Vs. #2 Florida State

  • Final Score: Florida State 31, Notre Dame 27
  • Quarterback: Everett Golson
  • Game Stats: 31/52 (60%), 313 yds, 3 TDs, 2 Ints; 11 rushes, 33 yds

The Decision: This game will forever live in infamy in the hearts of Irish fans because of the bogus pass interference call that cost the ND the game and changed the course of the season. Golson played very well in this contest.

His second interception came on a hail mary play after the awful penalty that took the go-ahead TD off the board. He was one flag from a 4 TD and 1 Int performance. Golson does not deserve the blame for this loss. He played winning football, plain and simple.

The Grade: 2.0/10

2015: #8 Notre Dame Vs. #7 Ohio State (Fiesta Bowl)

  • Final Score: Ohio State 44, Notre Dame 28
  • Quarterback: DeShone Kizer
  • Game Stats: 22/37 (59%), 284 yds, 2 TDs, 1 Int; 15 rushes, 21 yds, 1 TD, 1 fumble lost

The Decision: Kizer, to his credit, played fairly well. Ohio State simply ran over the Irish in this game. ND gave up 285 yards on the ground and 4 rushing touchdowns and lost superstar linebacker, Jaylon Smith, early on in the contest to a horrible knee injury.

Kizer did turn the ball over twice, but he was not the problem for Notre Dame in this chapter of ND’s NY6 bowl game blunders.

The Grade: 4.9/10

2017: #3 Notre Dame Vs. #7 Miami (FL)

  • Final Score: Miami (FL) 41, Notre Dame 8
  • Quarterback: Brandon Wimbush/Ian Book
  • Game Stats (combined): 13/27 (48%), 152 yds, 1 TD, 3 Ints; 13 rushes, 34 yds

The Decision: This game is one of the worst in ND football history. The buildup to this game was huge, and it was billed as though it would be the best game of the year, the renewal of the Catholics Vs. Convicts rivalry and so on. What we saw was a lethargic ND team that got demolished in South Florida.

The offense was simply horrible. Wimbush could not move the ball and allowed Miami to grab the momentum early with two bad picks. Ian Book was simply overwhelmed when shoved into a blowout on the road. Sadly, the QB’s play sunk the Irish in this game.

The Grade: 8.9/10

2019: #7 Notre Dame Vs. #3 Georgia

  • Final Score: Georgia 23, Notre Dame 17
  • Quarterback: Ian Book
  • Game Stats: 29/47 (62%), 275 yds, 2 TDs, 2 Ints; 3 rushes, 18 yds

The Decision: Ian Book was an established starter for the Irish by 2019 and was looking to pick up a signature win between the hedges in Athens. He started very strong, leading a touchdown and field goal scoring drives in the first half to have the Irish up 10-7 at halftime.

In the second half, though, Book stumbled. Threw his first interception at his own 24-yard line, leading to a Georgia field goal. Then his second pick came on Georgia’s half of the field, killing a promising drive up to that point and leading to another Bulldog field goal.

These mistakes would be too much to overcome, and the Irish would fall short. For these faults in critical moments, Book does get much of the blame for the loss.

The Grade: 7.5/10