Notre Dame has reinforcements on the way, and it couldn’t be coming at a more perfect time for HC Marcus Freeman and the Irish
If you build it, they will come.
With only two games left in the 2025 college football regular season, head coach Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have few opportunities to showcase that they belong in the playoffs. The Fighting Irish would be in the field if everything ended today, but they will also be hoping that some other teams on the bubble drop the ball down the stretch. Aside from that, Notre Dame will also hope to end the season without a hitch and be the best version of itself for the postseason.
If and when Notre Dame does make the playoffs, they appear to have some reinforcements coming. The team has dealt with several key injuries over the last few months, but there is some hope that there is good news on the horizon. Getting as healthy as possible is key for this Irish team to try to make another strong run.
Notre Dame standouts on the mend
There was a great update from Coach Freeman about the playoff return for Rubio. Before the 6-5, 322-pound defender got injured, he was playing like Notre Dame’s most stout run defender. Getting him back is going to be huge for the Irish. That defensive tackle room all of a sudden has tremendous depth to work with.
Week after week, Coach Freeman’s details of the Greathouse injury get a little more in-depth. In his most recent media availability, it sounds like the playoffs might be more of the target for a return. There are no promises that return definitely happens, but if Greathouse could return, and he is fully healthy, that adds quality depth to the wide receiver room that has proven production in big games.
After Schrauth was injured against USC, he has been sidelined since then with a left knee injury. It was originally reported to be about a 3-4 week recovery process, but we are still waiting to hear officially. Before Schrauth was hurt, he was playing like the best offensive lineman on the team. Getting him back would be huge.
TE Cooper Flanagan
After seeing Flanagan back for one game after recovering from last season’s Achilles injury, Flanagan has been sidelined again over the last couple of weeks. It is possible that we see the 6-6, 255-pound tight end back in action with some added rest, but that is uncertain right now. Having his size, experience, and blocking ability would be a huge bump down the stretch if he can fully return.
K Noah Burnette
This right hip injury for Burnette doesn’t feel like it is going away. While I am sure we will see him return at some point, would Notre Dame just roll with him cold during the biggest moments of the season? It would be a tall order for the former UNC kicker.
Will we see Charles Jagusah this season?
When Jagusag suffered his humerus injury this past offseason, there was some hope that he would be able to return sometime during the middle of the 2025 college football season. Several weeks ago, there were rumors that there was another setback for the 6-7, 330-pound offensive lineman, and now a return this fall feels pretty murky. Heading into the year, many expected Jagusah to grow into a star at his right guard position. The talent for the Illinois native has always been extremely high, but unfortunately for Jagusah, he has had some bad luck with injuries.
While it feels unlikely that we will see much of Jagusah, even for a potential playoff run, it would be nice to get him back in some capacity. Jagusah wasn’t expected to play much last season for the team, but another injury forced him into action at the back end of the playoffs. Jagusah responded, looking like a star for the Irish. Even if it was just as an emergency reserve, Jagusah’s sheer presence would be a massive boost, but it feels unlikely at this point.
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