Notre Dame OL Rocco Spindler was on the sidelines during the Indiana game

Blue & Gold mocked Notre Dame graduate student offensive lineman Rocco Spindler on the sideline in street clothes during the third quarter of Friday’s College Football Playoff game against Indiana. Sophomore Sam Pendleton replaced him at right guard in the second half.

Spindler received the attention of the Notre Dame medical staff early in the second quarter. Blue & Gold discovered that Spindler was in the casualty tent. When he emerged, he appeared to do a few calf raises and then return to the game.

During ESPN’s telecast, they speculated that Spindler might be out with an injury.

“They apparently lost their starting right guard Rocco Spindler to injury,” ESPN play-by-play broadcaster Sean McDonough said.

READ: Live Updates, Highlights, Match Score: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. no. 10 Indiana in the College Football Playoff

With Spindler available in the first half, the Irish had 17 carries for 155 yards (9.1 yards per carry) and 1 touchdown. The offensive line surrendered no sacks.

Spindler has started the last nine games at right guard for the Irish, including Friday’s game against Indiana.

Last year, Spindler started the first 10 games at right guard before suffering a knee injury against Clemson on Nov. 4, 2023, which ruled him out for the season.

Spindler eventually worked his way back to compete in spring training, but the Irish decided to go with the junior Billy Schrauth at left guard to start the season. Schrauth replaced him last season.

With a reshuffled offensive line to start in 2024, Schrauth suffered a high ankle sprain against Purdue on Sept. 14, putting Spindler back in action. He reclaimed his starting spot while Schrauth replaced Pendleton at left guard on October 26.

Entering Saturday’s game, Spindler had allowed no sacks and just 6 pressures in 297 pass-blocking snaps. Just one of those pressures was a quarterback hit, while the other 5 were hurries.

Last season Spindler had 292 pass blocking snaps. He gave up 15 pressures (2 sacks, 5 quarterback hits and 8 quarterback hurries. As a junior, it was his first season as a starter.

A product of Clarkston (Mich.) High, Spinder was among the most heralded recruits in the 2021 class. According to the On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that aggregates ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — he was No. 3 in Michigan, the no. 4 inside offensive lineman nationally and no. 65 overall player.