DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Measuring the competition Brian Kelly/Charlie Weis Era QBs have faced at Notre Dame: Starts against top 10 pass-efficiency defenses Starts against top 10 teams in total defense Brandon Wimbush 18.8% Everett Golson 21.7% Everett Golson 17.4% Brandon Wimbush 18.8% Brady Quinn 10.9% DeShone Kizer 17.4% Tommy Rees 9.7% Tommy Rees 12.9% DeShone Kizer 8.7% Brady Quinn 10.9% Jimmy Clausen 6.1% Ian Book 10.0% Dayne Crist 0.0% Dayne Crist 9.1% Ian Book 0.0% Jimmy Clausen 6.1% Starts against top 25 pass-efficiency defenses Starts against top 25 teams in total defense Brandon Wimbush 37.5% Everett Golson 34.8% Everett Golson 30.4% DeShone Kizer 34.8% DeShone Kizer 30.4% Tommy Rees 29.0% Dayne Crist 27.2% Dayne Crist 27.2% Brady Quinn 23.9% Brandon Wimbush 25.0% Tommy Rees 22.5% Brady Quinn 21.7% Jimmy Clausen 15.1% Jimmy Clausen 18.1% Ian Book 10.0% Ian Book 10.0% Starts against top 45 pass-efficiency defenses Starts against top 45 teams in total defense Brandon Wimbush 56.3% DeShone Kizer 69.6% Dayne Crist 54.5% Tommy Rees 54.8% Everett Golson 52.1% Brady Quinn 47.8% Brady Quinn 43.5% Dayne Crist 45.5% Jimmy Clausen 42.4% Everett Golson 39.1% DeShone Kizer 39.1% Brandon Wimbush 37.5% Tommy Rees 38.7% Jimmy Clausen 36.3% Ian Book 10.0% Ian Book 10.0% Starts against pass-eff. defenses 85 & below Starts against teams 85 & below in total defense DeShone Kizer 39.1% Ian Book 50.0% Dayne Crist 36.3% Dayne Crist 36.3% Jimmy Clausen 33.3% DeShone Kizer 26.1% Tommy Rees 29.0% Jimmy Clausen 24.2% Everett Golson 26.1% Brady Quinn 21.7% Brady Quinn 21.7% Brandon Wimbush 18.8% Brandon Wimbush 12.5% Tommy Rees 16.1% Ian Book 10.0% Everett Golson 13.0% Note:​ Lists include ND quarterbacks since 2003 with 10 or more career starts.