Notre Dame’s Scheduling Drama Takes a Turn - And Jeremiyah Love Isn’t Backing Down
Notre Dame’s absence from the College Football Playoff and its decision to opt out of the Pop-Tarts Bowl has stirred up more than just disappointment among fans - it’s ignited a wave of backlash from corners of the college football world. Some Power 4 athletic directors, according to recent reports, are even considering freezing out the Fighting Irish from future schedules. But if you think Notre Dame is going to sit quietly while others try to dictate their future, think again.
Running back Jeremiyah Love - a Heisman finalist and the Doak Walker Award winner - isn’t just brushing off the noise. He’s flipping the entire narrative.
When asked about reports that some ADs might pull out of scheduled games or refuse to schedule Notre Dame altogether, Love didn’t mince words.
“They’re scared to play us. They don’t want to play Notre Dame because we’re Notre Dame,” Love said Friday.
“You’re leaving us out of your schedule, it’s not a good look. Why not play us?
That’s how I think about it.”
That’s not just fire - that’s calculated fire. Love isn’t just defending his team; he’s putting the pressure right back on the programs reportedly considering a scheduling freeze. And in doing so, he’s reframing the entire situation.
The Narrative Shift
Let’s unpack this. Reports have surfaced suggesting that schools with future matchups scheduled against Notre Dame - including marquee names like USC and Texas - might be looking for the exit.
According to those reports, there’s talk that USC could walk away from one of college football’s most storied rivalries. Texas, meanwhile, might try to wriggle out of its home-and-home series with the Irish set for 2028 and 2029.
Now, whether any of that actually happens remains to be seen. No school has officially canceled a game. But Love’s comments have already reshaped the optics.
Instead of the story being about Notre Dame getting “punished” for stepping away from a bowl game, it’s now about other programs potentially ducking a fight. And in the ultra-competitive world of college football, perception matters. A lot.
Love’s message is simple: If you back out now, it’s not about teaching Notre Dame a lesson. It’s about fear. And that’s a narrative no athletic director wants attached to their program.
The Power of Perception
This is more than just a soundbite from a star player. It’s a savvy move in the world of college football politics.
Love’s comments put opposing ADs in a tough spot. Cancel a game, and you risk looking like you’re afraid of the challenge.
Keep the game, and you’ve got to face a Notre Dame team with a chip on its shoulder - and a running back who’s clearly not lacking in confidence.
And make no mistake: this is a team that’s going to remember who tried to sidestep them.
Notre Dame has long operated as an independent, which means it doesn’t have the built-in scheduling guarantees that come with conference membership. Every game is a negotiation.
Every rivalry is maintained by mutual agreement. That independence is part of what makes Notre Dame unique - and sometimes, part of what makes them a target.
But it also means the Irish are used to playing from a position where they have to prove themselves. Love’s comments tap into that mindset.
Notre Dame isn’t asking for favors. They’re asking for the ball.
What Comes Next
Until a school actually pulls the plug on a scheduled game, this remains a war of words. But the tone has been set - and it’s one that favors the Irish. Love’s statement isn’t just a defense of his program; it’s a challenge to the rest of college football.
If you’re going to call out Notre Dame, you better be ready to face them on the field. Because now, if you walk away, the perception is already in place: you didn’t cancel the game because of principle. You canceled it because you didn’t want the smoke.
And in a sport where pride, legacy, and toughness are currency, that’s a heavy price to pay.
So, for now, the ball is in the court of schools like USC and Texas. Do they stand by their commitments? Or do they risk being seen as the ones who blinked?
Either way, one thing’s clear - Notre Dame isn’t backing down. And with Jeremiyah Love leading the charge, they’re not just defending their name. They’re daring others to test it.