SOUTH BEND, Ind. _ Ian Book threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Miles Boykin with 5 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter as No. 5 Notre Dame rallied to beat Pittsburgh 19-14 Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium.
Book passed for 264 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as the Irish (7-0) avoided a major upset and kept their playoff hopes alive.
Pitt (3-4) nearly pulled off the stunner.
Maurice Ffrench's 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at the beginning of the third quarter gave the Panthers a 14-6 lead.
The Irish answered later in the third quarter with a 16-yard TD pass from Book to Chase Claypool. Notre Dame went for two, but Book couldn't complete a pass intended for Boykin.
The score remained 14-12 until the fourth quarter, when the Irish went 80 yards in five plays for the go-ahead touchdown.
