What happened: Safety Brauntae Johnson remains out with a foot injury, and defensive tackle Jason Onye is still sidelined by an ankle issue. Luke Talich shifts into the safety spot, while Bryce Young is part of the interior rotation and Owen Strebig stays out on the line.

Why it matters: The absences strip experience from the secondary and defensive front ahead of the scheduled game. They also force Notre Dame to lean harder on its depth against a Michigan State offense built around the run.

What to watch: Watch the pregame defensive rotation for how much work Talich and Bryce Young draw early. Any late change to the inactive list would further reshape the front.