Jeremiyah Love’s Historic Season Earns Him Finalist Spot for Walter Camp Player of the Year
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Jeremiyah Love is doing more than just running the football - he’s rewriting the Notre Dame record books and putting together one of the most complete seasons we’ve seen from a college running back in recent memory. On Tuesday, the junior standout was named a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, joining an elite group of five national finalists. He’s the only running back in the mix, standing shoulder to shoulder with three quarterbacks and one linebacker.
This marks Love’s third major national finalist honor this season. He’s also in the running for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the nation’s top overall player, and the Doak Walker Award, given to the country’s best running back. And based on what he’s done on the field, it’s easy to see why his name keeps coming up.
Let’s start with the numbers - because they’re jaw-dropping. Love has carried the ball 199 times for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns, while also hauling in 27 receptions for 280 yards and three more scores.
That’s 21 total touchdowns, good for second in the country, and he’s averaging a ridiculous 6.9 yards per carry. He’s not just producing - he’s doing it with efficiency and explosiveness that’s rare at any level.
What makes Love’s season even more impressive is that he’s sharing the backfield. Jadarian Price has taken on a significant role in the Irish offense, rushing 113 times for 674 yards and 11 touchdowns. Love isn’t a one-man show - he’s thriving in a two-back system and still putting up top-tier national numbers.
In fact, among the six FBS players who’ve rushed for at least 1,300 yards this season, Love is the only one doing it while splitting carries with another back who’s topped 600 yards. That context matters. It speaks to his ability to maximize every touch and still be the focal point of an offense that’s loaded with talent.
Across the board, Love ranks near the top nationally in virtually every major offensive category. He’s second in scoring (10.5 points per game), second in total points (126), second in total touchdowns (21), third in rushing touchdowns (18), fourth in rushing yards (1,372), fifth in rushing yards per game (114.3), fifth in yards per carry (6.89), and fifth in all-purpose yards per game (137.67). That’s not just a productive season - that’s dominance.
And then there are the moments - the games that define a great season. Against Syracuse, Love turned just eight carries into 171 yards and three touchdowns.
That’s 21.4 yards per carry. He became just the third player since 1996 to rush for 170+ yards and three scores on eight or fewer carries, joining Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Desmond Ridder in that ultra-exclusive club.
Then came the statement game against USC. In the rivalry showdown for the Jeweled Shillelagh, Love torched the No.
20 Trojans for 228 rushing yards on 24 carries, averaging 9.5 yards per pop. That performance earned him both the Associated Press National Player of the Week and the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honors.
More importantly, those 228 yards are the most ever by a Notre Dame player in a single game at Notre Dame Stadium - a venue that’s hosted over 500 games.
Love’s consistency has been matched by his knack for the spectacular. He’s the only player in program history with two 90-yard rushing touchdowns in a career - a 98-yard sprint in the 2024 College Football Playoff against Indiana and a 94-yard dash at Boston College this season.
He’s also etched his name into the Notre Dame record books in a big way. In a 49-20 win over Stanford, Love scored on the opening drive to break the program’s single-season touchdown record, passing Jerome Bettis’ 21 total touchdowns from 1991.
That was also his 18th rushing touchdown of the year, tying Audric Estimé’s single-season school record from 2023. And here’s the kicker - Love is the first player in Notre Dame history to post multiple seasons with 17 or more rushing touchdowns.
The Irish have had four previous Walter Camp Player of the Year winners - Ken MacAfee (1977), Tim Brown (1987), Raghib Ismail (1990), and Manti Te’o (2012). Love is now in position to join that prestigious group.
Whether he takes home the trophy or not, Jeremiyah Love’s 2025 season is already one for the ages. He’s been the heartbeat of Notre Dame’s offense, a game-changer every time he touches the ball, and a player who’s made history while chasing greatness.