You’ve seen the clips. Honestly, if you follow college football even casually, you couldn’t miss them. There is a specific kind of electricity that happens when a player touches the ball and the entire stadium—opposing fans included—just kind of holds their breath. For the 2025 season, that person was Jeremiyah Love.
The Notre Dame running back didn't just have a "good" year. He basically rewrote the record books in South Bend, a place where the record books are already crowded with legends like Jerome Bettis and Rocket Ismail. But Love is different. He’s got this weird combination of track speed and "how did he not fall over" balance that makes defenders look like they're playing on ice.
The Jeremiyah Love Hype Is Real (and Data-Backed)
People throw around the word "generational" too much. It's annoying. But look at what Jeremiyah Love actually did this past year. He didn't just lead the Irish; he became the first player in the history of the program to win the Doak Walker Award. Think about that. All the great backs that have walked through those tunnels, and a kid from St. Louis is the one to finally bring that trophy to the Gug.
He finished the regular season with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. That tied Audric Estimé’s single-season record, but Love did it while splitting carries with Jadarian Price. That’s the crazy part. Most Heisman-caliber backs are workhorses getting 30 touches a game because the team has nobody else. Love was sharing the wealth and still putting up video game numbers.
The Run Everyone Talks About
If you want to know why he's the "hot" name in every NFL scout's notebook, look at the Navy game. He got hit. He stumbled. Most guys would have put a hand down or just accepted the four-yard gain. Love basically performed a physics-defying pirouette, stayed upright without touching the turf, and took it the distance.
It wasn't just luck.
What Makes Him Different From Past Irish Stars?
For a long time, Notre Dame was known for "bruiser" backs. You know the type. Big, 230-pound guys who would run through your face for three yards and a cloud of dust. Love is a total pivot from that.
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He’s roughly 6-foot, 214 pounds, which is plenty big, but he moves like a slot receiver. He’s the only player in the country this year who had over 1,100 yards while averaging a massive 6.9 yards per carry. Efficiency like that usually drops off when you get more carries, but for Love, it stayed high because he hits home runs.
- Speed: He’s been clocked in the 90-plus yard range twice in his career.
- Versatility: He caught 27 passes for 280 yards and three more scores.
- Big Game Energy: 228 rushing yards against USC. That’s a stadium record. In a rivalry game.
Basically, he’s the modern NFL prototype.
The NFL Draft Buzz and the 2026 Outlook
So, what happens now? Mel Kiper Jr. and the rest of the draft world have already started circling his name for the 2026 NFL Draft. Some are calling him the No. 1 running back prospect in the nation. It makes sense. When you have his kind of contact balance and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, you don't stay in college long.
But it's not just the stats. It’s the "Disney Spirit Award" stuff—the locker room presence. He’s become the face of Marcus Freeman’s era. A guy who stayed, grew, and became elite.
Common Misconceptions About the Irish Backfield
Some people think Notre Dame’s offense was "one-dimensional" because Love was so good. That's actually wrong. Jadarian Price put up over 600 yards himself. The reason Love looked so "hot" on the highlight reels is that the offensive line, anchored by guys like Billy Schrauth, was opening lanes you could drive a truck through.
Also, don't buy the narrative that he’s just a "finesse" runner. He broke more tackles in the second level than almost anyone in the Independent ranks this year. He’s plenty tough.
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How to Follow His Next Move
If you're trying to keep up with the next chapter of the Jeremiyah Love saga, here is what you actually need to do:
- Watch the NFL Combine Drills: Whenever he decides to go pro, his 40-yard dash and shuttle times are going to be the main event.
- Monitor the "Transfer Defense" at ND: Now that Love and Price have both declared for the draft (as expected following their 2025 campaigns), keep an eye on how Marcus Freeman uses the portal to replace that production.
- Check the All-American Lists: Love is a lock for first-team honors, which cements his legacy in the North Tunnel forever.
The era of the "power-only" Notre Dame back is over. Love proved that you can be explosive, versatile, and still win the toughest games on the schedule.