Notre Dame vs. North Carolina score: Live game updates, college football scores, NCAA highlights, coverage

No. 2 Notre Dame is in control but does have its season hanging in the balance as it carries a 24-17 lead at No. 19 North Carolina into the fourth quarter on Friday. 

One of the keys to the game has been the play of the Notre Dame defense. North Carolina star quarterback Sam Howell has just 175 yards on 11-of-18 passing, and he’s been limited to 4 net rushing yards on seven attempts, though he does have two total touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). The team as a whole has been limited to just 88 rushing yards at 3.5 yards per attempt, well below the Heels’ season average. 

The other primary storyline has been the continued excellence of Ian Book, who has thrown for 245 yards on 19-of-28 passing and added 48 rushing yards, most of it on a 33-yard run that set up the second touchdown of the game for the Fighting Irish. Book has been playing some of the best football of his college career in recent weeks, shining in wins against Clemson and Boston College, and this appears to be more of the same from the graduate student signal-caller for Notre Dame. 

A win for Notre Dame would help bolster its argument as one of the best teams in the country and further solidify its place in the ACC championship race. But even though the game seems to be set up for the Irish to succeed, they still enter the final period of play with a one-score lead that’s one play from being taken away. 

CBS Sports will be with you the entire way updating this story with the latest from the game. Keep it locked here for live updates, highlights and more on Saturday evening.