In a devastating blow to their College Football Playoff aspirations, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish announced that star defensive lineman Rylie Mills will miss the remainder of the postseason with a right knee injury. The senior captain, who leads the team in sacks and tackles for loss, suffered the injury while recording a sack in the second half of Notre Dame’s 27-17 first-round win over Indiana.
Head coach Marcus Freeman initially expressed optimism that Mills could return for the CFP quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 seed Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1st. However, further evaluation revealed the severity of the injury, forcing Mills to watch from the sidelines as the Fighting Irish defense aims to slow down the high-powered Bulldogs offense.
Overcoming Adversity
The loss of Mills is just the latest challenge for a Notre Dame squad that has battled key injuries all season long. The defense had already lost All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison and talented pass rushers Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traore to various ailments. Now, the Fighting Irish must dig even deeper to fill the void left by their disruptive team captain.
It’s a tough break for Rylie and our entire team, but we’ve faced adversity all year long. The next man up has to be ready to step in and make an impact. We still believe in ourselves and what we can accomplish.
– Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Head Coach
Junior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio, who spelled Mills against Indiana and recorded two tackles, will be tasked with a larger role moving forward. The return of senior Howard Cross III from injury should help bolster the defensive front, but there’s no denying Mills’ absence leaves a major hole.
Silver Linings
Despite the devastating news, Notre Dame did receive some positive injury updates. Promising freshman offensive tackle Charles Jagusah, who tore a pectoral muscle in preseason camp, has recovered quicker than expected and will be available for the Sugar Bowl. His presence should provide a boost to an offensive line already dealing with the uncertain status of guard Rocco Spindler.
The Fighting Irish have already defied the odds by becoming the first-ever non-Power-5 team to make the College Football Playoff. Knocking off the mighty Bulldogs without Mills leading the charge will be an even taller task. But if this resilient Notre Dame team has proven anything, it’s that they can never be counted out.
- Belief in the “next man up” mentality
- Rallying around injured teammates
- Using adversity as added motivation
While the CFP injury report is an undeniable blow, the Fighting Irish remain steadfast in their mission to shock the college football world. An upset over Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals would be the ultimate tribute to Mills and every other sidelined teammate. The road to glory just got tougher, but Notre Dame has never been one to back down from a fight.
