Notre Dame loses Kyngstonn Viliamu-asa to a season-ending injury

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame heads into its last game of the regular season on a nine-game win streak and fresh off one of the most dominant wins in program history.

A 70-7 victory over Syracuse, marking the most points scored inside Notre Dame stadium since 1932. But in the middle of all that momentum, one moment changed everything.

Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa suffered a season-ending left knee injury during the Syracuse game. It happened halfway through the first half, making it the second straight year he’s had a knee injury in Game 11. Last season, it was his right knee against Army on Nov. 23, which kept him out of the USC game and the first round of the playoffs against Indiana University.

The sophomore from California has been a major part of the defense this year. In 11 games, he totaled 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 5 quarterback hurries, and an interception. He’s started three career games and just recently hit a career high with nine tackles and two tackles for loss against Boston College.

Head Coach Marcus Freeman said they’ll support Kyngstonn through every step of his recovery, adding that he has a bright future, especially with how tough and supportive his mother is.

“Everybody evaluates what he does outside but this challenge is going to be one he faces on the inside,” Freeman said. “But he’s built the right way. His mom is a strong woman that has really instilled valuable inside skills. I always talk about what’s on the inside.”

Losing a key defender this late in the season raises the stakes. Notre Dame’s defense has been dominant during this nine-game stretch—stopping the run, staying tight in coverage, and playing together. Now, they’ll need to adjust quickly.

Expect veteran linebackers to step up and for some younger players to get more snaps. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this defense—it’s that when adversity hits, they don’t back down.