The Cougars took the field Tuesday afternoon with several key positions up for grabs for the game with Notre Dame this Saturday.

However, the team received news on sophomore linebacker Louis Bland, who looks to be done for the season after re-aggravating a knee injury he suffered during spring practices last year. Bland, who was the team’s second leading tackler, had been battling soreness in his knee throughout the majority of the year.

"(Bland’s) probably been our best football player on top to bottom on our defense in the last year and a half,” Head Coach Paul Wulff said.

As the team gets ready to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this Saturday in the Alamodome, Wulff said during his news conference on Tuesday that some position battles will go on this week during practice.

On the offensive line, there are two spots open for grabs. At left tackle, redshirt freshman Tyson Pencer and freshman Alex Reitnouer both saw an equal time running with the first team on Tuesday, and both did a good job protecting freshman quarterback Jeff Tuel. The same could be said about redshirt junior Micah Hannam and redshirt sophomore Steven Ayers, who also impressed as they split reps at right tackle.

On defense, at the middle linebacker position, Wulff announced that redshirt sophomore Alex Hoffman-Ellis and sophomore Mike Ledgerwood would also be fighting each other this week to start on Saturday. Ledgerwood, who got his first career start last week against California, saw nearly all the reps with the first team Tuesday, while Hoffman-Ellis saw limited action.

Senior linebacker Andy Mattingly also did not practice on Tuesday because of a bruised left knee. The injury does not look to be serious, though, and Mattingly is listed as “likely” to play this Saturday against the Fighting Irish.

The Cougars will take on a highly explosive offense for the second straight week when they take on Notre Dame. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen has been in Heisman Trophy discussion throughout the whole year, and he has been nothing short of impressive throughout the first half of the college football season.

Senior safety Xavier Hicks said he is looking forward to playing a such a strong team in the national spotlight.

“I’m really excited about it,” Hicks said. “They’re a prestigious school, and I feel really privileged to play a traditional program like theirs. The whole team is excited, and I think we’re going to be able to execute.”