SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame and Ian Book did enough to beat Virginia Tech, no more, no less. Enough.
The gritty yet inefficient 21-20 victory settled worries the No. 16 Irish (6-2) might mail in the rest of their season devoid of Playoff hopes, but it did nothing to quell the worries of the offensive ineffectiveness that beset Notre Dame a week ago in its embarrassing loss at Michigan.
The Irish know as much, from head coach Brian Kelly to Book to the rest of the offense. The 18-play, 87-yard, last-minute touchdown drive only meant the repairs to those woes can be done in times of renewed — but claimed never entirely absent — confidence rather than utter despair.