Two weeks after Notre Dame wrapped up its season - opting out of a bowl game after being left out of the College Football Playoff - there's still one storyline hanging over South Bend like a winter fog: what’s next for Jeremiyah Love?
The star running back has been at the heart of the Irish offense, and now he’s at the center of one of the biggest decisions in college football. Will he declare for the NFL Draft, or could he surprise everyone and return for another season in the blue and gold?
Right now, fans are holding onto hope - and that hope has a name: Marcus Freeman.
During Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy ceremony, Freeman stood on stage next to Love, and while the moment was meant to honor college football’s best, the Notre Dame head coach found a way to slip in a subtle message - one that Irish fans are clinging to with everything they’ve got.
“We all see what he can do on a football field, and the many different skill sets that he has,” Freeman said. “But I think about the young man who walked into our program three years ago… who might be leaving after this season.”
That one word - might - was the lifeline.
Freeman didn’t stop there. He gave Love a quick tap on the leg, a coach’s nudge that said, “Hey, we’re not done yet.”
Love’s response? Just a smile.
But not just any smile - the kind that says, *I hear you, Coach. And maybe, just maybe, I’m still thinking about it.
It was a moment that didn’t need a press release. The body language said enough. Freeman made it clear he’s not giving up on the idea of Love returning, and Love didn’t shut the door either.
Then came Love’s own words - this time, in a pre-Heisman interview with SportsCenter. When asked directly about his future, he didn’t go full send into the NFL waters. Instead, he left the door cracked open, just enough for the South Bend faithful to peek through.
“I’m most likely done,” Love said. “I haven’t made an official announcement or anything like that, but I’ve been discussing things with my family.
We’ll be coming to a conclusion here pretty soon, within the next week or so. I got to do what’s best for me.
I got to take care of my family. So, maybe most likely… maybe there is a small chance I continue playing collegiate ball.”
Now, let’s be real - “most likely” usually means “probably gone.” And Love has every reason to make that leap.
He’s proven himself on the field, shown the versatility and explosiveness that NFL scouts drool over, and he’s thinking about his future and his family. That’s as real as it gets.
But in the world of college football, where decisions are made in living rooms, film rooms, and quiet conversations with coaches, “maybe” is more than just a word. It’s a window.
A glimmer. A reason for fans to believe.
Love’s impact on Notre Dame has gone beyond the box score. He’s been a tone-setter, a leader, and a game-changer.
Whether he’s breaking off a 40-yard run or picking up blitz protection on third down, he’s been the kind of player that programs build around. And if there’s even a sliver of a chance that he’s back in South Bend next fall, you can bet Marcus Freeman will be doing everything in his power to make that happen.
The clock’s ticking. Love says a decision is coming soon. Until then, Notre Dame fans will be hanging on every word, every hint, every smile.
Because sometimes, “maybe” is all the hope you need.