(Photo: AJ Houk)
Jeremiyah Love: FIP All-Time Irish Hero
Jeremiyah Love has officially cemented himself as one of the best to ever wear the blue and gold. The Notre Dame star was named a Heisman Finalist this week—an honor that feels both historic and bittersweet, because it almost certainly comes after his final snap in an Irish uniform. For three seasons, Notre Dame fans were privileged to watch one of the most electrifying running backs the program has ever produced. Love didn’t just play for Notre Dame. He built a legacy in front of us, run by unforgettable run.
Love’s path to South Bend began when he committed to the Irish on October 15, 2022. A standout at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, he closed his senior season with 1,291 rushing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 370 receiving yards, proving he was one of the most dynamic prep athletes in the country. Rated the No. 5 running back and No. 96 overall prospect in the 2023 class, he arrived at Notre Dame with expectations—and immediately began surpassing them.
As a freshman, Love posted 385 rushing yards, two total touchdowns, and flashed the blend of speed, balance, and contact strength that quickly made him a fan favorite. Even in a deep running back room that included Audric Estime, his ability to change a game was obvious. The feeling was universal: Notre Dame may have something special.
His sophomore season removed any doubt.
Love exploded for 1,125 rushing yards, 17 touchdowns, and another 237 yards receiving. It was a year defined by signature, program-defining highlights. His 98-yard touchdown against Indiana secured a 27–17 victory and showcased his acceleration in full flight. His unforgettable Orange Bowl touchdown—breaking four tackles on the way to the end zone—joined the ranks of Notre Dame’s most iconic postseason runs. By the end of the season, Love wasn’t just a Notre Dame star; he was a national name and a legitimate Heisman contender entering 2025.
That set the stage for a junior season among the most anticipated in recent Notre Dame history. Love, delivered.
He carried the ball 199 times for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, and added 280 receiving yards with three more scores. His 94-yard sprint against Boston College lit up the stadium. His touchdown against Navy, where he kept his balance through a collapsing pile of bodies, was the kind of run that defined his style: tough, fearless, and impossible to bring down. these runs and a slew of others–showed everything that made him exceptional: vision, patience, acceleration, and the power to finish.
But football can be unforgiving. In his final regular-season game against Stanford, Love left early with bruised ribs. Many believed that night was meant to be the crescendo of his Heisman campaign. Instead, when Notre Dame was left out of the College Football Playoff, it became clear that Love had likely played his final snap for the Irish.
Even so, his résumé proved undeniable. And the Heisman Trust took notice.
Love earned a place among the four finalists—alongside Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin—standing as the lone non-quarterback invited to New York. He is the first Notre Dame player to reach the ceremony since Manti Te’o in 2012. Whether his name is called on December 13 remains uncertain, but he has already shown he belongs among the sport’s elite.
Yet Love’s impact goes deeper than numbers and highlight reels. He authored his own comic book. He engaged with the community. And one of Notre Dame’s most cherished rituals became his pregame moment with his father, Jason Love—a quiet conversation that reflected the character behind the athlete.
Now projected as a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft—with some projections placing him inside the top 10—Love leaves Notre Dame as the complete package: elite athlete, respected teammate, and genuine ambassador for the program.
Jeremiyah Love plays football the way it should be played: tough, disciplined, and with heart. For three remarkable seasons, he gave everything to Notre Dame—and Notre Dame fans, in turn, were able to witness the rise of a true legend.
He is, without question, one of the greatest players ever to represent the Fighting Irish. A Heisman Finalist. A game-changer. A leader. A Notre Dame man.
A legend we were privileged to watch grow, and a Fighting Irish Preview: All-time Irish Hero.