The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has encountered a significant setback amid its playoff push. Starting left guard and team captain Billy Schrauth is expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a sprained MCL, marking a pivotal injury to the offensive front that could alter the course of the season.

This latest injury is the third major blow to a Notre Dame offensive line already struggling with depth issues. The absence of Schrauth threatens the Fighting Irish’s current resurgence after an 0-2 start to the season. As both a leader and an experienced player, Schrauth has been essential to the identity of Notre Dame football in 2025.

His ability to control the trenches has been especially vital in high-stakes games where physicality often determines the outcome. According to sources, “Notre Dame standout left guard Billy Schrauth is expected to miss 3-4 weeks due to a knee injury he suffered vs. USC Saturday. Schrauth, a team captain for the No. 12 Irish, is viewed as one of the top draft prospects among draft-eligible guards.”

The offensive line, already without center Ashton Craig (season-ending injury) and right guard Charles Jagusah (leg injury), will now lean on redshirt sophomore Sullivan Absher at left guard. The timing couldn’t be worse as the Fighting Irish stand at 5-2 and are clinging to College Football Playoff hopes with crucial November matchups ahead.

Before the injury, Schrauth was a core leader on an offensive front that averaged over 200 rushing yards per game. That dominance was on full display against USC, where running back Jeremiyah Love exploded for 228 yards and a touchdown. Jadarian Price added 87 more rushing yards, fueling Notre Dame’s fifth straight win.

With key November games looming, the Fighting Irish face a challenge in maintaining their momentum without Schrauth’s presence on the offensive line.
https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/notre-dame-football-news-billy-schrauth-injury-update