Rocco Spindler injury: What happened to Notre Dame guard? 

The No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish lost left guard Rocco Spindler to injury midway through the first half of their game against the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers on Friday in the first round of the college football playoffs. Spindler left the game to visit the medical tent after making a tackle and was seen in street clothes for the second half of the game with an undisclosed injury as his team closed out the game 27-17.

During Spindler's time on the field, Notre Dame recorded 17 carries for 155 yards, resulting in one touchdown, and the offensive line did not allow a sack on quarterback Riley Leonard. Sam Pendleton replaced Spindler and finished the game in his place.

The loss of Spindler will be a huge loss to coach Marcus Freeman ahead of the Fighting Irish's Sugar Bowl clash against the No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs on January 2.

ESPN's play-by-play broadcaster Sean McDonough confirmed Spindler's injury during the game.

“They apparently lost their starting right guard Rocco Spindler due to injury,” McDonough said.

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Rocco Spindler has become a key cog for Notre Dame

Rocco Spindler has been a key cog in the Notre Dame Fighting Irish machine that has won 11 consecutive games after a shock Week 2 loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies.

After a stellar 2023 season when he played 10 games as a right guard before sustaining a serious knee injury against the Clemson Tigers that ended his season. Before his injury last season, Spindler tallied 15 pressures (two sacks, eight quarterback hurries and five QB hits) in 292 pass-blocking snaps.

Although Spindler battled back to be available for spring practice, Spindler was supplanted as a starter by Billy Schrauth, who replaced Spindler when he got injured last season.

Schrauth was the starter for Notre Dame before sustaining a high ankle sprain against the Purdue Boilermakers on Sep. 14, allowing Rocco Spindler back into the team who started the next nine games before his injury against the Indiana Hoosiers.

Even when Schrauth returned from injury, Spindler retained his right guard spot while the former replaced Sam Pendleton as left guard. This season, Spindler has allowed zero sacks and six pressures (5 hurries and one quarterback hit) in 297 pass-blocking snaps.

Rocco Spindler has made himself into a key cog in coach Marcus Freeman's all-conquering Notre Dame Fighting Irish team and would be a big miss in the Sugar Bowl against the Georgia Bulldogs on January 2.