Spindler missed the second half of the first-round win over Indiana because of a right ankle injury. He said earlier this week that he was ready to play. The 1.90 meter tall, 140 kilogram senior graduate Spindler has started the last ten games at right back. He also started ten games at the position for the Irish. If Spindler’s ankle doesn’t hold up during the game, offensive line coach Joe Rudolph could opt to replace him with sophomores Charles Jagusah or Sam Pendleton.

Jagusah, who was expected to miss the entire season due to an injury to his pectoral muscle during preseason training camp, has yet to play in a game this season. But the Irish were high up early in the season with the 6-7, 328-pound Jagusah. He was expected to start at left tackle after doing so in the Sun Bowl late last season. Pendleton (6-4, 310) replaced Spindler in the Indiana game and started seven games earlier this season at left guard.

The three other Notre Dame players listed as questionable earlier this week – freshman linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (right knee), sophomore wide receiver KK Smith (clavicle) and freshman linebacker Bodie Kahoun (right lower leg) – were not listed in depth. Therefore, no update on their status was provided.

However, Viliamu-Asa and Smith completed the pre-game warm-up in uniform. Kahoun wasn’t dressed. Viliamu-Asa seemed less successful than Smith in the warm-up.

Viliamu-Asa was injured after his first career start against Army. In 11 games, he totaled 29 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.

Smith suffered a collarbone injury in practice before Notre Dame played Army on Nov. 23. In six games this season, he caught three passes for 38 yards.

Kahoun was eliminated in the third game of his career against Army. He recorded his first and only tackle to date on November 16th against Virginia.

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Two players who haven’t been on Notre Dame’s rankings for quite some time are also not really playing: senior defensive tackle Jason Onye and freshman quarterback CJ Carr. Onye resigned from the team after Notre Dame’s fifth game of the season against Louisville to deal with a “personal issue.” Carr is recovering from a right elbow injury. He said earlier this week he was about 95% healthy.

Notre Dame lost five starters this year to season-ending injuries: cornerback Benjamin Morrison (hip), Vyper Jordan Botelho (knee), center Ashton Craig (knee), Vyper Boubacar Traore (knee) and defensive tackle Rylie Mills (knee). .

Notre Dame previously ruled out many other players for the season: Walk-on CB Marty Auer (knee), walkable DL Quentin Autry (shoulder), S Taebron Bennie-Powell (shoulder), walkable CB Charles Du (shoulder), LB Kahanu Kia (knee), RB Gi’Bran Payne (knee), OL Styles Prescod (shoulder) and CB Chance Tucker (knee).

A few other players weren’t dressed for pregame warmups: OL Peter Jones, walk-on CB Isaiah Dunn,