Notre Dame is ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoff Top 25, set to hold that position when the second set of rankings are released on Tuesday, thanks to a 31-17 win over No. 19 North Carolina. At 8-0, the Fighting Irish remain the lone undefeated among ACC teams and appear on a collision course with No. 3 Clemson in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 19, a rematch of the Irish’s 47-40 overtime win over the Tigers in South Bend on Nov. 7.

Part of the success of Notre Dame has been due to the success of quarterback Ian Book. The senior is not putting up gaudy numbers, but has been virtually mistake-free in throwing 12 touchdowns to just 1 interception while adding 6 rushing touchdowns. Against the Tar Heels, he was 23-of-33 for 279 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 8 times for 48 yards.

“He’s got the Johnny Manziel (element). He’s got the, ‘Just make it happen.’ Two guys coming at him and he pitches it with two hands, like, ‘Don’t worry about the end result. You’ve seen enough football now,'” said ESPN college football analyst David Pollack on Monday during his podcast with Kirk Herbstreit and Kevin Negandhi, according to 247Sports.com. “This isn’t an offense that’s going to win with exquisite receivers or winning on routes really quickly, and I don’t think they’re going to consistently win in the RPO game. … They can play with multiple tight ends and make things very difficult on you in that aspect. And then you’ve got multiple guys that can do different things.

According to Pollack, the development of Book into more of a risk-taking player has elevated the Irish as they look for their second CFP bid in 3 seasons.

“It’s about the evolution of Ian Book turning into Johnny Football and just making things happen and not worrying about consequences for his actions and taking his team from being a really good team that’s kind of on the fringe to a team now you’re going to say, ‘Put them on the short list to win a national title’,” he said.