Mike Berardino

IndyStar

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The warm glow of Saturday’s 38-17 win over Stanford was tempered Sunday with the news that stalwart left guard Alex Bars had suffered a left knee injury that will likely end his Notre Dame career.

Coach Brian Kelly, speaking on Sunday’s media conference call, said he was still awaiting final confirmation via a MRI exam. Team doctors, however, believe “the worst is possible,” meaning tears to the ACL and MCL for the graduate senior from Nashville, Tenn.

“It’s devastating for us,” Kelly said. “We’re losing a captain and we’re losing somebody that is respected and revered by so many in the program. I just feel so bad for the kid.”

Bars, who had made 30 consecutive starts at three different spots on the offensive line, left Saturday’s game midway through the third quarter after running back Dexter Williams and a Stanford tackle fell across the back of his lower left leg.

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“We’ve got other players that will go in and play and play at a high level,” Kelly said, “but to lose him in his senior year is really hard on us.”

Versatile senior Trevor Ruhland, who replaced Bars for the rest of Saturday’s game, becomes his immediate replacement but Kelly noted sophomore Aaron Banks also will see increased playing time at both guard and tackle.

ETC.

Senior linebacker Drue Tranquill will have a cast placed on his hand Tuesday after suffering a metacarpal fracture on Saturday. Surgery will not be required at this point, Kelly said, and Tranquill isn’t expect to miss any time... Saturday’s game at No. 23 Virginia Tech will kick off at 8 p.m. on ABC... Notre Dame moved up a spot to No. 7 in the latest USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The Hokies moved up a spot after winning 31-14 at Duke.

Follow IndyStar Notre Dame Insider Mike Berardino on Twitter at @MikeBerardino.