Jeremyiah Love looks pleased after his two touchdown performance against Navy. (Photo: Joseph Weiser)
First and Fitzharris: A weekly Look at Notre Dame Football
The bad-weather trend continued at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night as the Irish rolled through the snow and the Navy Midshipmen, 49–10. Nothing surprising here — business as usual for a Notre Dame team that’s made winning look routine over the past seven games.
When the notification popped up on my phone that Blake Horvath was out, any nerves I had vanished. Horvath has been on Navy’s roster for what feels like a decade and always seems to give the Irish defense headaches. Without him, any thought of an upset disappeared before kickoff.
Jeremiyah Love to New York City on December 13?
There’s really only one thing worth analyzing after this one — Jeremiyah Love’s Heisman moment.
As Fernando Mendoza was having his Heisman moment at Penn State earlier in the day, Love was crafting one of his own under the lights in South Bend. The Junior finished with 121 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, including yet another dramatic run that defied logic.
Midway through the third quarter, Love was surrounded by a swarm of Navy defenders and appeared to be tackled five yards behind the line. But he refused to go down — rolling over bodies, keeping his balance, and bursting free for a 48-yard touchdown that left even the snow frozen in disbelief.
Love has already built a highlight reel few Notre Dame backs can match — from his 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana in last year’s playoffs to that legendary short-yardage score against Penn State in the semifinal. He may not win the Heisman, but he deserves a seat at the Heisman ceremony.
Jaden Greathouse Update
If you’ve been following the Irish closely, you’ve probably been wondering: where has Jaden Greathouse gone?
The sophomore wideout, a breakout star during last year’s national title run, hasn’t played since the Arkansas game, where he had two catches for 32 yards. That absence sparked speculation — was Greathouse redshirting to preserve eligibility and explore a transfer?
Marcus Freeman put those rumors to rest Monday: “He’s as frustrated as anyone. He wants to be out there.”
Still, the update wasn’t encouraging. Freeman revealed that Greathouse recently had blood extracted from his injured hamstring. There’s no clear timetable for his return, and he’s officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s game at Pittsburgh.
The Final Test Awaits in Pittsburgh
The last obstacle between Notre Dame and the College Football Playoff looks like the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Ranked No. 24 in the first CFP standings, Pitt’s rise shouldn’t shock anyone who’s been paying attention. After a 2–2 start, head coach Pat Narduzzi made a pivotal change — benching sophomore Eli Holstein in favor of freshman Mason Heintschel. The move paid off immediately.
Heintschel has been brilliant in five starts, throwing for 1,547 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just five interceptions while leading the Panthers to a perfect 5–0 record. Still, he hasn’t faced a defense like Notre Dame’s — one that’s gotten stronger and faster with every passing week.
Pitt’s defense also ranks 22nd nationally in efficiency and is coming off a ridiculous showing against Stanford, where the Cardinal finished with minus-10 rushing yards. “They’re playing with a lot of confidence and momentum,” Freeman said. “It’s going to be a great challenge, and we know that.”
To survive this trip to Pittsburgh, Notre Dame’s offensive line must set the tone and keep the run game rolling. Do that, and the Irish will wear the Panthers down by the second half and stroll out of Acrisure Stadium with win No. 8 and playoff hopes will be all but locked in.
