SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Brandon Wimbush #7 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish carries the ball against the Michigan Wolverines in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Notre Dame football suffered a temporary setback on Thursday when news broke of Ian Book’s injury. Luckily, the Irish have an experienced winner as a backup.

The news that hit Notre Dame football on Thursday morning is news that no team in the country ever wants to hear. As the Irish prepare for the home-stretch — making a run at the College Football Playoff — losing their starting quarterback for the last home game of the season is about as worst-case of a scenario as you can get.

Luckily, the overall quarterback situation at Notre Dame is the best-case scenario.

Only Alabama and Notre Dame can claim to have backup quarterbacks with winning records and over a full season as a starters under their belts.

Enter Brandon Wimbush.

While we all focus on and dread the potential negative impact Ian Book’s injury could have, it’s easy to miss the positives.

Brandon Wimbush is a winner. He is an elite athlete, one of the best runners as a quarterback in the country, and a completely different player that Florida State now has to prepare for. He has the respect of the Notre Dame coaching staff as well as the lockerroom.

Notre Dame has the best win over any team (Michigan) in college football during the 2018 season. Let’s not forget who was under center during that game.

The Irish are in good hands.

Chip Long is a smart coordinator. He understands Wimbush’s strengths and weaknesses. He understands what Notre Dame needs to do in order to get the win against Florida State. It was always assumed that the gameplan would be run-heavy anyway, thanks in part to the weather. Now we can bank on it. Additionally, the threat of the big play through the air still exists.

Long will cater the gameplan to Wimbush.

Bottom line: the situation at Notre Dame could be much worse than it is. Not every team has a championship-caliber defense. Not every team has the weapons the Irish have. And not every team has a proven winner coming off the bench at quarterback.

The coaching staff and players trust and support Brandon Wimbush. The Fighting Irish faithful have no choice but to do the same.