Notre Dame
The Notre Dame football program had a Week 6 bye and is now gearing up for its rivalry game against Stanford in Week 7. The team has started the season strong with a 4-1 record, the only loss being a surprising upset against Northern Illinois in South Bend.
Since that defeat, Notre Dame has won three consecutive games, including a victory over top-25 Louisville in Week 5. However, the Irish received some unfortunate injury news on Monday regarding a key defensive player. Head coach Marcus Freeman confirmed that defensive lineman Boubacar Traore will miss the rest of the season, according to Pete Sampson of *The Athletic*.
Freeman also provided updates on other players’ statuses:
Out for the season: Boubacar Traore
Probable: Josh Burnham (left ankle), Christian Gray (right shoulder), Jordan Faison (ankle)
Questionable:Cooper Flanagan (left ankle), Gabe Rubio (left foot), Billy Schrauth (right ankle)
The most significant loss is undoubtedly Traore, who has been a key contributor on defense. The sophomore has tallied nine solo tackles, three sacks, a pass deflection, and a pick-six, which came in Notre Dame’s win over Purdue. Traore also leads the team in both tackles for loss and sacks through the first month of the season.
This injury adds to a growing list of setbacks for Notre Dame, which has already lost defensive end Jordan Botelho and center Ashton Craig for the season in recent weeks. With Traore now sidelined, the Irish’s defensive line takes another hit as they aim to stay in contention for the College Football Playoff. After facing Stanford, Notre Dame will play Georgia Tech and Navy, followed by another bye in Week 10. With this latest injury, Marcus Freeman’s squad will need others to step up to maintain their defensive strength.
