Jeremiyah Love Powers into Heisman Conversation with Explosive Finish to Regular Season
Jeremiyah Love didn’t just knock on the Heisman door-he kicked it wide open. Notre Dame’s dynamic running back put together the kind of performance that turns heads in NFL front offices and earns invites to New York in December.
His latest outing against Syracuse was nothing short of jaw-dropping: 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries. That’s not just efficient-it’s video game stuff.
With that kind of production, it’s no wonder Love is firmly in the Heisman conversation now. But the path to the podium is anything but clear.
He’s in a tight race with some serious talent: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed. Each brings a different flavor to the table, but Love’s résumé speaks for itself-and loudly.
Let’s break it down. Love finished the regular season fourth in the nation in rushing yards (1,372), third in rushing touchdowns (18), and did it all on just 199 carries-tied for 22nd in the country.
That’s wild efficiency, especially considering he split snaps with Jadarian Price and sat out long stretches of blowouts. His 6.9 yards per carry ranks 11th nationally, and he wasn’t just padding stats against weak defenses.
Love delivered when it mattered most. Against ranked opponents, he showed up in a big way: 167 total yards and two scores versus No.
23 Pitt, and a jaw-dropping 265-yard, one-touchdown explosion against No. 20 USC.
These weren’t just good games-they were statement games.
Notre Dame as a whole was rolling, too. The Irish closed out their regular season on a 10-game win streak, with every victory coming by double digits. That kind of dominance doesn’t happen without a reliable engine powering the offense-and Love was that engine.
Of course, no season is without its bumps. In Notre Dame’s two ranked losses, Love’s production dipped slightly.
He was held to just 59 yards by No. 10 Miami-a game that could be the one blemish on his Heisman résumé.
Against No. 16 Texas A&M, he bounced back with 147 yards and two touchdowns, but the loss still stings.
If there’s anything that might keep him from hoisting the trophy, it’s that Miami tape.
Still, there’s no denying what he’s accomplished. Love capped off his regular season by breaking a school record that had stood for decades-Jerome Bettis’ touchdown mark-when he punched in his 21st score against Stanford. That’s rare air, and it puts him in the conversation not just among current stars, but among Notre Dame legends.
But just as things were peaking, the Irish faithful got a scare. Early in the Stanford game, Love took a shot to the ribs after getting wrapped up and absorbing a knee from a Cardinal defender.
He stayed down for several minutes before making his way to the sideline and eventually the locker room, accompanied by head trainer Rob Hunt. He did return briefly, but the concern was real-and it cast a shadow over what had been a dream season.
Now, as Notre Dame preps for the postseason and Love’s Heisman hopes hang in the balance, the question isn’t whether he’s good enough. That’s been answered over and over again on the field. The question is whether the voters will look past the Miami hiccup and the injury scare, and recognize the elite body of work he’s put together.
One thing’s for sure: Jeremiyah Love has made his case. Loudly.