Notre Dame will have two of its top starters available for Friday’s College Football Playoff first-round game against Indiana, as defensive lineman Howard Cross III and running back Jeremiyah Love will both play.

Struggling Irish coach Marcus Freeman confirmed Sunday the return of Cross, who hasn’t played since Nov. 9 against Florida State, when he suffered a severe ankle sprain. Cross, who earned All-America honors in 2023 and was a Bednarik Award semifinalist, has four sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss in nine games this season.

“Howard Cross is an excellent football player,” Freeman said. “If you don’t have him, he’ll be missed.”

Love, who leads Notre Dame with 949 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, suffered a right knee injury during the second half of the team’s regular-season finale Nov. 30 at USC. He had 99 rushing yards and a touchdown in the game and performed an acrobatic hurdle throw over a Trojans defender. He had 336 rushing yards and five touchdowns in his last three games.

According to Freeman, Notre Dame will also have reserve running back Devyn Ford, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (knee), who has 29 tackles and a sack as well as several reserves, will be out against Indiana.