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Notre Dame’s playoff push just hit a serious snag. The win against USC should have sparked revival hopes. But Marcus Freeman’s already depleted offensive line had a new casualty after center Ashton Craig and Charles Jagusah. Yes, team captain and starting left guard Billy Schrauth went down during the win over USC. While it threatens their momentum after a rough 0–2 start to the season, the timeline for the offensive lineman’s injury recovery is really turning heads. On Monday, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported, “Notre Dame standout left guard Billy Schrauth is expected to miss 3-4 weeks due to a knee injury he suffered vs. USC Saturday.” That means Schrauth could miss most of the rest of the regular season: Nov. 1 against Boston College, Nov. 8 against Navy, and possibly Nov. 15 against Pitt or even Nov. 22 against Syracuse. In his absence, redshirt sophomore Sullivan Absher is expected to lead at left guard for the next few weeks. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Still, losing Schrauth for November’s vital games could sting for Freeman, as his absence strips the unit of both experience and leadership. He had been the engine behind a rushing attack averaging more than 200 YPG. Their dominance against USC was on another level. It opened lanes for Jeremiyah Love to rush for 228 yards, while Jadarian Price added 87 more. That effort powered the Irish to a fifth straight win and underscored just how crucial Schrauth had been. Probably, that’s why Zentiz didn’t miss a chance to hype the injured left guard. “Schrauth, a team captain for the No. 12 Irish, is viewed as one of the top draft prospects among draft-eligible guards,” he said. And with all that Schrauth has done, Marcus Freeman didn’t hold back in praising the left guard. “Yeah, huge impact, right? He’s a tough kid,” said Freeman. But Freeman didn’t have the actual status of his left guard. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Notably, Schrauth became a vital piece in Notre Dame’s offensive line this season by aiding the 1,300 yards Irish rushing attack produced this season. The team averages 191.7 rushing yards per game and it’s positive for around 5.1 yards per attempt. Out of the 20 touchdowns of the Fighting Irish’s 34 touchdowns, they have come on the ground this season. “I don’t know what it is, knee, leg, contusion, but I know he was able to get back in there, but hobbled out again, and he was able to lead our team in the fight song. That’s what’s most important. When we win, Billy leads us in the fight song,” said the Notre Dame HC. Now, while losing a standout from the offensive line is really concerning, are their playoff hopes truly out of reach? Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Marcus Freeman’s playoff dream still alive or slipping away Notre Dame’s CFP hopes are alive after the Fighting Irish leaned on their ground game to topple USC, 34-24. Despite injury concerns, Jeremiyah Love exploded for a TD on just 24 carries, setting a Notre Dame Stadium record. “We just played our butts off, and when the opportunity presented itself, we executed,” stated Love. But Love wasn’t alone. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Jadarian Price also added 13 carries and 87 rushing yards to bring Notre Dame home. Together, Love and Price accounted for 315 rushing yards. “It’s not very common in life to see two guys that are so talented… but choose to put the team in front of themselves and make the most of their opportunities,” said Marcus Freeman. Likewise, the most intriguing fact is that the Irish defense also showed potential. They held USC to just 68 rushing yards. “It was going to be one in the trenches,” remarked Freeman. “We weren’t going to be able to throw the ball much in the second half because of the moisture and the weather. That’s our edge. We’ve got to play the game in a physical manner.” Now, with this fifth win, Notre Dame (5-2) has boosted its playoff resume. If they can keep winning, the path to the postseason remains very much open.
