Two big plays in the third quarter Saturday night enabled No. 6 Notre Dame to break open a close game and dump No. 24 Virginia Tech 45-23 in Blacksburg, Va.

The Fighting Irish (6-0) appear to have a favorable schedule in the second half of their season, even though they play only two home games. They face no ranked teams and play two neutral-site games in which they figure to be heavily favored.

Dexter Williams, a senior tailback who returned to action last week after missing the first four games for undisclosed reasons, sprinted 97 yards with 11:49 left in the third quarter to quiet a raucous sellout crowd of 65,632 and give Notre Dame a 24-16 lead.

Quarterback Ian Book upped the margin to 31-16 with 4:59 remaining when he rolled left, away from pressure, and found Miles Boykin for a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Book and Boykin put the game away with 9:08 left when they connected on a 5-yard scoring strike, finishing another good game for both. Book completed 25 of 35 passes with an interception for 271 yards and two scores, while Boykin finished with eight receptions for 117 yards. Williams bagged 178 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries.

Quarterback Ryan Willis hit on 31 of 52 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns with an interception for the Hokies (3-2), but lost a fumble late in the second quarter that Julian Love returned for 42 yards and a score to make it 17-9 Irish.

Willis responded with a late drive in the half's final minute, teaming with Damon Hazelton for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds left that drew Virginia Tech within 17-16. Hazelton caught 12 passes for 131 yards.

Making its first visit to Lane Stadium, one of college football's loudest venues, Notre Dame took a quick 10-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Williams and a 31-yard field goal by Justin Yoon.

Mistakes colored the Hokies' effort throughout the night. They committed six penalties, one of which nullified a first quarter touchdown, and made two turnovers.

--Field Level Media