Indiana vs Notre Dame opt outs and injury report: Top players not participating in first-round of College Football Playoff
Indiana and Notre Dame are preparing to battle in the first-ever round-of-12 game in the College Football Playoff. While most of the players are preparing, both teams have lost a few players to the transfer portal and injuries over the course of the season. When 11-1 Notre Dame plays 10-2 Indiana, here's the lowdown on players not playing in the playoff game.
First-round playoff game opt-outs and injuries for Notre Dame and Indiana
Indiana injuries
Andrew Depaepe, DL (injury)
A transfer from Michigan State, Depaepe suffered a serious knee injury in a preseason scrimmage. He hasn't seen any action this year. Depaepe was a redshirt freshman, so he'll be back in the future.
Drew Evans, OL (injury)
Evans played extensively in the season's first three games but hasn't seen action since due to injury. Evans suffered an Achilles injury and will redshirt this season. A redshirt sophomore, he's got plenty of football ahead of him.
Josh Philostin, CB (injury)
Philostin was a highly-regarded recruit, but like Depaepe, he suffered a preseason knee injury. He'll redshirt the year and be ready to roll in Bloomington next season.
Nick Kidwell, OL (injury)
A projected starter and transfer from James Madison, Kidwell also sustained a preseason injury. He was already a seventh-year senior, so the increasingly aged Kidwell could be back for one more season or may decide to end his college football career.
Vince Fiacable, OL (injury)
A redshirt junior, Fiacable played in just one game in 2023. He's seen most of his action on special teams, and another season-ending injury in camp held him out of the lineup for the year.
Indiana transfer portal entrants
Elijah Green, RB
A running back transfer from North Carolina, Green rushed for 201 yards and five touchdowns. He's got one year of eligibility.
Joshua Randolph, LB
Randolph didn't see any action in 2024 after playing sparingly in 2023. Randolph originally came from Austin Peay in the portal.
Noah Bolticoff, OL
A TCU transfer, he played seven games at his old school. He's never seen any action in Indiana.
DJ Warnell Jr., S
Warnell spent two years at UCLA and two at Arizona. In his one year at Indiana, he made four tackles and then sat out so that he could redshirt. He's got one year left.
Donaven McCulley, WR
In 2023, McCulley caught 48 passes for 644 yards. He played in just three games this year and decided to redshirt. McCulley has already announced his transfer to Michigan.
Nahji Logan, LB
A transfer from UMass, Logan had no tackles in four games at Indiana. He's got just one season left.
Tyrike McDaniel, S
McDaniel spent two seasons at Old Dominion, a year at a JUCO, and has seen minimal action at Indiana. He's got a season left.
Notre Dame injuries
Benjamin Morrison, CB (injury)
A likely first-round NFL Draft pick, Morrison was injured at midseason and is out for the remainder of the season. Notre Dame has experience playing without him, but he is still missed.
Boubacar Traore, DL (injury)
An impressive pass rusher, Traore, blew out an ACL in Week 5 against Louisville. He had three sacks in the first five games but is out for the season.
Chance Tucker, CB (injury)
A preseason ACL tear sidelined Tucker for the season. A senior, Tucker was expected to have a significant season for the Irish.
Charles Jagusah, OL (injury)
A sophomore, Jagusah suffered a preseason upper-body injury. He's out for the season but should be back next year.
Gi’Bran Payne, RB (injury)
Payne tore his ACL in the spring game and has missed the season. It's his second significant injury, and the future of the junior in football is a bit unclear.
Taebron Bennie-Powell, S (injury)
Bennie-Powell was another preseason injury casualty. A left labrum injury required preseason surgery. A freshman, he has plenty of football ahead.
Notre Dame transfer portal entrants
Aiden Gobaira, DL
Gobaira came from Virginia in 2022 but never saw meaningful time at Notre Dame. He was placed on a medical scholarship and has elected to enter the portal to try to extend his playing career.
Jaden Mickey, CB
Mickey was another 2022 recruit. He played two years of occasional duty. After seeing minimal action early in 2024, Mickey elected to opt out of the season and preserve his redshirt year.
Tyson Ford, DL
Ford is another medical injury casualty. A 2022 recruit, he's seen minimal time, and after being moved to a medical scholarship, he decided to transfer to Cal.
What about the missing Hoosier and Fighting Irish players? Who do you think wins the game?