Louisville has already completed its first season of league play in the ACC, with two nonconference regular-season games remaining. The rise in competition level was part of what drew Reggie Bonnafon to the Cardinals. But not even the rookie quarterback could have possibly imagined having this much on his plate this soon.

Yet No. 24 Louisville is turning to the former four-star prospect once again this weekend after starter Will Gardner went down with a season-ending left knee injury. Bonnafon has gotten used to being on-call so far, starting three games and tallying 662 passing yards with four touchdowns and one pick. Now he is tasked with leading the program into its first ever matchup with pseudo-ACC member Notre Dame.

"It's the reason I chose to come to a place like this: to compete in a conference that is as high-caliber as the ACC," Bonnafon, a Louisville native, said. "There's never a week that goes by that you don't have a tough opponent in the ACC. It's some of the best players in the country you're playing every week. So it's a great honor and privilege to play in the ACC and it's just a thing that I grew up wishing that I could do."

Bonnafon's locker is next to Gardner's, whom he said has remained a huge help despite the injury, regularly attending meetings and offering encouragement to the newcomer every step of the way. Bonnafon enrolled this summer, and he said his early behind-the-scenes efforts helped in winning over his offensive peers and earning their respect as a guy capable of leading the offense. He slowly grew acclimated to head coach Bobby Petrino's offense along the way.

"Once you first initially get here it's a tough adjustment for anybody," Bonnafon said. "But once you get enough reps and meetings and things like that with (offensive coordinator Garrick) McGee and Coach Petrino, things come easier and you realize it's not necessarily such a high-complex offense (that) it may seem to be. But it's a great offense to be in."

Bonnafon demonstrated his growth during Louisville's last outing, at Boston College. He came in for the injured Gardner in the second quarter and completed 4 of 5 passes for 69 yards with two touchdowns. He added 76 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground. The Cardinals trailed 13-10 upon his entrance and ended up winning 38-19.

"I think Reggie has shown that he’s developed and matured," Petrino said. "Certainly the experience that he had early in the year, I thought, showed up in the second half of the Boston College game. I know he’s excited to get going and get ready to go play at Notre Dame."

Nothing has been easy for Bonnafaon, who endured tragedy shortly after his inaugural campaign got underway. His father, Wallace, died of a heart attack on Sept. 15, two days after Bonnafon's third college game. Bonnafon missed the following week's game at FIU to attend his father's funeral, and he has been overwhelmed by the support of his football family ever since.

With games against the Irish and rival Kentucky remaining, Bonnafon cannot help but think of how much he has grown in such a short, tumultuous period of time.

"I just think God's put me in a situation that he knew I was able to handle," Bonnafon said. "A lot of things have gone on this season. I don't think anybody but him could get me through that. The support from my family and also my coaches has really helped me a lot. They're always positive, trying to keep me upbeat. So I give all my credit to them."