SOUTH BEND, Ind. — While the Heisman Trophy conversation swirls around him, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love maintains his focus on what truly matters: helping the ninth-ranked Fighting Irish secure their second consecutive playoff appearance and potentially clinching the school's first national championship since 1988.
The Team-First Mentality
Love acknowledges the growing buzz about his Heisman candidacy but emphasizes that team success remains his primary objective. "I try to keep everything just straight as possible," the standout athlete revealed. "I definitely see stuff, and it's good to see. That's also a tribute — the buzz — to us doing good as a program in general."
The running back consistently credits his teammates for his impressive performances, noting that football remains fundamentally a team sport. He believes the complementary football played by the entire squad enables individual achievements to shine.
Record-Breaking Performance
Love's statistics speak volumes about his impact on the field. Following two initial losses, he has been instrumental in Notre Dame's remarkable eight-game winning streak that has positioned the Irish (8-2, No. 9 CFP) firmly in postseason contention.
His current rankings within the Football Bowl Subdivision demonstrate his exceptional versatility:
- Third in rushing yards per game (113.5)
- Third in total touchdowns (17)
- Third in scrimmage yards (1,409)
Remarkably, Love stands as the only player appearing in the top three across all these critical categories. He has also etched his name in Notre Dame's storied history by becoming the first player to record multiple touchdown runs exceeding 90 yards — a 98-yarder against Indiana during last year's playoffs and a 94-yarder against Boston College this season.
Beyond the Statistics
Love's value extends far beyond mere numbers. His Heisman resume features numerous highlight-reel plays showcasing his extraordinary ability to maintain balance while hurdling defenders, spinning out of tackles, or rolling off opponents.
His partnership with Jadarian Price has created one of college football's most formidable running back duos this season. This powerful combination has significantly supported first-time starter CJ Carr's development into one of the nation's most promising young quarterbacks.
Coach Marcus Freeman has observed substantial growth in Love's overall game, particularly in receiving and pass blocking, transforming him into a more complete running back. "He's as special of a football player as I've been around," Freeman praised. "Every time he has the ball in his hands, he can make something positive happen. He is as dangerous of an offensive weapon that I've probably been around."
The Heisman Landscape
The crucial question remains: how will Heisman voters perceive Love's accomplishments? In today's offense-dominated football era, quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza of Indiana and Julian Sayin of Ohio State currently lead the betting favorites ahead of the December 13 trophy ceremony in New York.
Historical context reveals the challenge facing Love. The last two running backs to win the Heisman both represented Alabama — Derrick Henry in 2015 and Mark Ingram II in 2009. Before them, Reggie Bush of Southern California claimed the honor in 2005.
Notre Dame's rich history includes seven Heisman winners, with receiver Tim Brown being the most recent in 1987. The only Irish running back to capture college football's most prestigious individual award was Johnny Lattner back in 1953.
Love describes his playing philosophy: "I'm the type of guy that wants to break off a touchdown run every single play. So if I'm to consistently get one, two to three-yard gains, it's just not what I want. But I have made myself OK with getting the hard yards and waiting for that one opportunity to hurt the defense by breaking off a long run."
Future Prospects and Current Mission
Speculation surrounds Love's collegiate future, as he's widely regarded as a top-five talent for the upcoming NFL draft. However, immediate business requires his attention.
Victories against struggling Syracuse (3-7) this Saturday and Stanford to conclude the regular season could secure one of twelve coveted playoff spots. This would provide Notre Dame another opportunity to compete for the national championship — and this time, potentially win it — regardless of Heisman voting outcomes.
Coach Freeman perfectly summarized the team's perspective: "I think Jeremiyah Love would be the first to tell you that winning a game is way more important than that individual award. He's going to do everything in his power to make sure we prepare to win a game, and if the Heisman Trophy comes with it, then great. That's amazing."
