Who is missing from Notre Dame in Sun Bowl via opt-out?

These names could be in the Sun Bowl, but they won’t be.

It’s become increasingly common for college football players to opt out of inconsequential bowl games for one reason or another. With the College Football Playoff field tripling in size next year, that could solve the problem a bit, at least as far as the number of team this practice impacts. This is the future of college football, even if you don’t agree with it.

With Notre Dame facing Oregon State in the Sun Bowl, several Irish players are missing, either having entered the transfer portal or choosing to focus on preparing for the NFL draft. That means many of the Irish’s leaders in each major statistical category will be absent, so it’s not worth listing a bunch of names that won’t play.

Instead, we’re going to list the percentage of each major statistic that will be missing from the Irish during the final game of the season because of opt-outs. Hopefully, this won’t discourage you from watching the game too much:

Notre Dame spring practice: Injury bug already bites Irish

How do you feel about Notre Dame’s interior defensive line entering 2022?

Notre Dame just started their 2022 spring football practice on Thursday and already the undesired injury bug has shown its ugly face in South Bend.  According to Tim Prister of Irish Illustrated, Notre Dame defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina tore his ACL in Thursday’s opening practice.  His spring is obviously done and with him being 310-pounds, recovering in time to play this regular season would be quite the ask.

Keanaaina, a junior from Colorado who came with a four-star ranking and chose Notre Dame over Ohio State, USC, and others, is one of the biggest players on the Fighting Irish defensive line.  Although he only played 33 snaps last season, Kurt Hinish’s departure meant for the possibility of more playing time.  Jacob Lacey and Gabriel Rubio will figure to fill that void, and perhaps Hinish’s younger brother Donovan, who signed in this past recruiting class.

All the best to Keanaaina in a speedy recovery as we can only hope the injury bug doesn’t choose to put down roots this spring in South Bend.

Related:

Photos from Notre Dame’s first spring football practice

Notre Dame spring football offensive primer (2022)

Notre Dame Football: DT Aidan Keanaaina Signs with Irish

Keanaaina chose Notre Dame over offers from the likes of Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and USC among others.

Notre Dame continued to see the signed letters of intent pour in Wednesday as Aidan Keanaaina of Denver’s was the sixth to arrive.

Keanaaina is a defensive tackle and is listed as three-star recruit on 247Sports.

Keanaaina chose Notre Dame over offers from the likes of Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and USC among others.

The 6-3, 292 pound defensive tackle will participate in the Polynesian Bowl on January 18, a game you can watch on CBS Sports Network.