Jeremiyah Love’s first preseason run with the Arizona Cardinals gave Notre Dame fans exactly the kind of flash they remember from South Bend.
After sitting out the Cardinals’ opener, Love got his first real NFL action in Arizona’s second preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and wasted no time looking comfortable. He was the featured back in the first half, piling up 11 carries for 58 yards and adding 3 catches for 15 yards.
The numbers tell part of the story. The bigger takeaway was how natural he looked doing it. Love never found the end zone, but he still kept the offense moving and delivered a few runs that felt straight out of his college tape.
His best moment came on a carry that had the old Notre Dame feel to it: he took the handoff, burst through the line and hurdled a defender for extra yardage.
Jeremiyah doing what he does best 😁 #GoIrish ☘️ | #IrishInTheNFL | @JeremiyahLove pic.twitter.com/7EAQHNxJcc
- Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 14, 2026
By the time the first half ended, Love’s night appeared to be done, and the Cardinals had little reason to push him any further in his first NFL game. It was enough work to show what he can do, without giving fans the full dose just yet.
One thing that stood out was how he handled the volume. Love looked more like a workhorse than he had at Notre Dame, and he seemed to get stronger the more chances he received against Las Vegas. Any concern about him wearing down with a heavier load didn’t show up Thursday night.
The backfield picture also isn’t settled. If Love is competing with Tyler Allgeier for the starting role, that race still looks open. Allgeier had only 4 carries for 19 yards, but his 4.7 yards per carry in his first action of the season was solid enough to keep him in the conversation.
Still, Love getting nearly three times as many carries as Allgeier suggests the former Fighting Irish standout has already made a strong impression on his new coaches.
In Other News...
Notre Dames First Camp Injury Is Testing A Championship Standard
Preseason camp has already delivered an early reminder that Notre Dames margin for error on the offensive line is thin, and the depth chart is being pressed before the first snap of the season. The Fighting Irish entered camp with championship expectations and a clear need to keep the front five steady, but an injury on the interior has complicated the process of sorting out one of the lines key jobs.
Joe Rudolph has said the staff feels good about the options still in the mix, which is part of why this becomes such an important test for the room. Notre Dame does not need a long-term drama here, but it does need a quick answer, because settling the spot early would help avoid the kind of sloppy start that can linger well beyond September. [Read more 🡒]
Christian Gray Puts Notre Dames Toughest Defensive Job In Focus
Christian Grays move from outside cornerback to nickel is one of the more interesting pieces of Notre Dames defensive puzzle this offseason. A two-year starter at corner, the senior already knows the rhythm of playing on the back end, but the nickel spot asks for more than just coverage instincts. It can demand heavier communication, quicker processing and a little more comfort moving all over the field, which is why Gray has been talking through the transition as he gets settled in.
Gray has made it clear he understands the challenge and believes he can handle it, even as he leans on former Notre Dame defenders Jordan Clark and Devonta Smith for advice. For the Irish, that kind of adjustment matters because the nickel role often ends up being one of the defenses most demanding jobs, especially when the front and secondary have to stay in sync. Grays confidence is a good sign, but the real test will come once the speed of the position starts forcing decisions in real time. [Read more 🡒]