MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Of all the players gathered outside the Notre Dame locker room late Thursday night to reflect on a historic victory, offensive lineman Charles Jagusah might have been the least likely to be standing there. people.

Giorgusa, who was not supposed to be in uniform at Hard Rock Stadium, recounted his performance in Notre Dame's 27-24 victory over Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Capital One Orange Bowl. His season was over before it really began after he tore his pectoral muscle early in training camp. The injury to Jagusa, who is expected to be the team's starting left tackle, is Notre Dame's first major health setback, but it won't be its last.

The only way Jagusa has a chance to contribute this season is for Notre Dame to make the CFP and make a deep run. In order to achieve this, the Irish will need to overcome a staggering number of injuries that will end the season for some players who, unlike Jagusa, have no chance of returning. The wave of injuries has not affected the offense and defense. Some of the team's big-name stars and important role players have been affected.

Defensive coordinator Al Golden called them "sleep injuries." "You're talking about a large number of players."

But none were big enough to put Notre Dame off its playoff push, which continues Monday night in Atlanta against Ohio State in the CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T.

Most teams that get as deep as Notre Dame shows a fair amount of good luck. But the Irish have not had much luck when it comes to injuries. So how did they make it all the way to the national championship game?

after tuesday In November, while practicing before Notre Dame's game against Army at Yankee Stadium, Golden knew he was about to see the first in his 30-year coaching career.

"I haven't experienced anything where we've lost players," he told ESPN. "That speaks volumes about coach (Marcus) Freeman's leadership, the leadership of our captains and the unity of the team. Obviously , for a long time it was the next guy.”

Every player and coach in college football has cited the "next man up" mentality, recognizing its necessity and inevitability in a violent sport but also praying for it. These coaches and players know that most injury-plagued teams eventually sink without being able to fill all the holes.

Jagusa was the first major setback for Notre Dame, but others would follow. The team responded to a Week 2 home loss to Northern Illinois University with a 66-7 victory over Purdue in West Lafayette, but the victory came at a cost. Starting center Ashton Craig tore the ACL in his left knee, while starting defensive end Jordan Botelho injured his right knee. They lost consecutive series in the second quarter.

Boubacar Traore stepped up in Botelho's absence, leading Notre Dame in sacks (three) and tackles for loss (five) by the end of September. But the redshirt freshman suffered a season-ending left knee injury in the Week 5 win over Louisville.

The biggest injury occurred two weeks later, when cornerback Benjamin Morrison suffered a hip injury against Stanford. Morrison, a freshman All-American in 2022, earned Associated Press All-American second-team honors in 2023 and was a semifinalist for the Thorpe Award. He will also need surgery and will miss the entire season.

“You’re talking about some of the best people at their position,” Golden said. "And there are some young guys, you don't know how good they're going to be, but they're going to be good, Bubacar and obviously Jordan Botelho."

As injuries to players on the defense mount, linebacker Jake Kizer feels a mix of compassion and determination. Some units collapse, or at least regress, after losing a playmaker like Morrison, but not Notre Dame.

“I don’t think that was ever an option for this program,” Kizer said. "It's always been, 'Hey, we'd be shocked if someone gets hurt, but someone has a chance. Can you improve this team, make this team better and take advantage of this opportunity?'"

The repeated and resounding answer is yes. True freshman cornerback Leonard Moore was a three-star recruit who stepped into Morrison's lineup and now leads the team in pass breakups while also adding two forced fumbles and Two interceptions.

Junior Tuijaramaka and Donovan Hinish both had just 10 tackles in 2023, but they have taken on larger roles on the defensive line. They totaled 68 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss.

"There really wasn't a case where anybody went down, and I was like, 'Ah, we're done,'" said standout safety Xavier Watts. "I have full confidence in all my teammates."

Notre Dame's defense has been decimated by injuries, which is the biggest reason for the team's push for a national championship. The Irish lead the nation with 32 points and are second in the country behind only Ohio State in allowing 14.3 points per game.

“Keep moving forward,” Golden said of the team’s philosophy. "Don't whine, don't make excuses, the next person, carry the flag."

shortly before surgery In an effort to repair his pectoral muscle, Jagusa met with Freeman, who told the second-year player he could play in a potential CFP game if Notre Dame played for the first time in four seasons.

"It didn't feel realistic at first, but as I got closer and closer, I just kept pushing and I thought, 'Yeah, I can do this,'" Giagusa said. “It’s an honor for everyone and keeps me involved.”

As the team continues to play games into mid-December, late December, and early January, the chances of Jagusa not only seeing the field but also playing meaningful offense increase. There, he played guard instead of tackle in the Orange Bowl, replacing injured starter Rocco Spindler. Like others do when replacing a player lost to injury, Jagusa stepped up and pulled out defensive end Danny Dennis on quarterback Riley Leonard's touchdown run Sutton and brought down Penn State safety Jalen Reed on another pull.

“It shows you how much credit my teammates deserve,” Jagusa said. "I didn't do much today in the long run. They got us here. They did all the heavy lifting, everybody, all year long, grinding it out, and it paid off for me."

Jagusa's preseason injury began a season-long shuffle on Notre Dame's offensive line. Craig started the first three games before getting injured, prompting Pat Coogan, who started all season at left guard in 2023 but entered as a backup this fall, to take over at center. At guard, Billy Schrauth started at both positions, with Spindler and Sam Pendleton also starting.

Notre Dame is solid at tackle, with Aamil Wagner on the right side and Anthonie Knapp, a true freshman who emerged after Jagusa's injury, on the left side. Jagusa made his special teams debut against Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals of the Sugar Bowl and then replaced Spindler against Penn State.

“Coach Freeman always says the future is uncertain, so you can’t worry about the future,” Giagousa said. “Certainly we’ve been through a few weeks where a lot of guys have been knocked around and you’re like, ‘Oh crap, how are we going to make this work?’ But it’s about being prepared every day, no matter what we do Whichever five guys you put on the field, they're going to do a great job."

Jagusah's story highlights how Notre Dame's depth and toughness have been tested, even during the CFP. Notre Dame's first bright spot came from Jeremiyah Love, who rushed 98 yards to the end zone in the first round against Indiana. Love injured his right knee in USC's regular-season finale and had been battling an upper respiratory illness in the days leading up to the Indiana game. But he still set the record for the longest run in CFP history.

The Irish defeated Indiana 27-17 in a score that was closer than the actual score, but also lost defensive tackle Rylie Mills, who led the team in sacks (7.5) and a knee injury. Leader in tackles for loss (8.5). Mills spent much of November anchoring a defensive line that lost Botelho and Traore as well as starting tackle Howard Cross III, a 2023 second-team AP All-American.

Notre Dame was trailing Penn State 10-0 in the CFP semifinals when Leonard's head hit the turf, sending him to the injury tent to be evaluated for a potential concussion. Backup quarterback Steve Angeli, who hadn't played outside of cleanup time all season, came on and hit on his first five pass attempts, setting up a field goal before halftime.

Love aggravated a knee injury against Georgia and left the game in the third quarter, and his status for the semifinals has been in question. Despite wearing protective gear, Love gave Notre Dame its first lead with one of the more iconic runs in recent school history, breaking away from four Penn State defenders and knocking the ball over the goal line. He later showed off his signature hurdle over Penn State's Kobe King.

Notre Dame won the game on a shot from Mickey Jeter, who has played much of the season with a hip injury and missed two shots in the loss to Northern Illinois and had to play in the final five Only 1 of 5 shots were made during the regular season.

“I don’t think I or this team would be where we are today without those trials and tribulations and injuries and all that kind of stuff,” Love said. "Everyone on this team is persistent. (I'm) playing through injuries, playing when I'm sick, and anybody on this team would do the same thing because we love each other."

Every team emphasizes Perseverance, perseverance, players stepping up for each other. But what separates an Irish team that actually delivers on those promises from a team that fails to deliver?

"It's because we've been at the bottom of the bowl," Kizer said. "We've gone as deep as we can and felt the most pain a team can feel, and that's brought us closer. So, we now know how to face adversity."

Notre Dame's loss to Northern Illinois was a setback that would almost certainly eliminate the Irish from consideration in the four-team playoff era. The result also brought back memories of Freeman's first season, which included home losses to Marshall and Stanford.

But rather than let NIU's loss linger or worry about what it might mean, Notre Dame put the victory together, even while losing key players.

"You're better off living your life six inches in front of your face," offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said. "Coach Freeman talks about it all the time: Win this hiatus. Just win this hiatus -- it's here. We're able to keep that mentality, no matter how much chaos is around us."

In the aftermath of Penn State's win, Golden said Notre Dame "needed every ounce of courage to win this game." Still, the Irish will need more to beat an Ohio State team that has a talent advantage and few major injuries outside of its offensive line.

Knapp suffered a high ankle sprain against Penn State that will keep him out of the championship game. Freeman said Sunday that Spindler's outlook is more optimistic but not yet completely clear. Jagusa will likely play a big role against Ohio State, and perhaps he will return in the summer.

The Irish are used to playing without a full deck of cards. In their eyes, whoever plays is good enough to win the championship.

"This is a tough football team," Denbrock said after Penn State's win, standing a few feet away from Jagusa. "They just keep playing. They don't back down, they don't care what the situation is. God bless them, it's fun to be a part of."