SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Six Notre Dame football players faced misdemeanor criminal charges Saturday, casting a pall over the Fighting Irish’s expectation of another nationally ranked season.

Five of the players were arrested Friday night when a state trooper pulled their car over in Fulton County, a few miles south of the campus, for an improper taillight and detected the odor of pot coming from the vehicle.

A search of the car turned up marijuana and a loaded handgun in the car.

Charged with possession of an illegal narcotic were senior safety Max Redfield, sophomore linebacker Te’von Coney, sophomore running back Dexter Williams, redshirt freshman cornerback Ashton White and freshman receiver Kevin Stepherson.

Redfield, Williams and Stepherson were also charged with possessing a handgun without a license.

In a separate incident, senior cornerback Devin Butler was arrested early Saturday morning for battery to a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. Police said he got into a confrontation with an officer at the Linebacker Lounge, a popular bar just off campus and near Notre Dame Stadium.

The players had completed their last training camp practice only hours before they were arrested.

Paul Browne, Notre Dame’s vice president for public affairs and communications, said the school is investigating both incidents and will report on any disciplinary measures once details are known.

“The university will determine if additional sanctions should apply to any or all of the students charged,” said Browne.

Notre Dame has a rich tradition among successful college football programs in the country. It has won more than a dozen national titles and consistently finishes near the top of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ratings.

The 2016 team was rated No. 9 in the ESPN pre-season poll, and No. 11 in the Associated Press poll. The Fighting Irish are scheduled to play their opening game against the University of Texas on Sept. 4 at Austin.

Details for this story were provided by the Goshen, Ind., News