Notre Dame Football: 5 reasons Irish will handle USC

Book is better than Daniels

In selecting the Top 4 teams to make the playoff, the College Football Playoff Committee utilizes statistics as well as the “eye test”. When looking at the two starting quarterbacks in this game, the same methods can be used to determine who is better.

Ian Book, the Notre Dame junior, has taken over the starting job for the Irish and has played incredibly. Book was given an opportunity to start over Brandon Wimbush a few games into the season, and the Irish have not looked back. Well, Book has sat out some time due to injuries, but when healthy, he has been the man under center.

Book has completed 72.6 percent of his passes for 17 touchdowns in the eight games that he has played in. Additionally, he has only thrown five interceptions all year. Book’s impressive play has been instrumental to the Notre Dame undefeated season thus far.

JT Daniels is a solid quarterback, especially as a true freshman. All things considered, Daniels has done a better job than many other freshman quarterbacks would have done in the same scenario. However, his 57 percent completion rate and 10 interceptions do not compare Ian Book.