In Notre Dame’s first series against the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday night, junior running back Jeremiyah Love looked the part of a Heisman Trophy winner. The Irish’s greatest showman put on a spectacle, racking up 54 yards and ending the drive with a touchdown. The score moved Love past Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis for the all-time single-season touchdown record at Notre Dame.
With no quarterback making a definitive statement, the Heisman seemed to be within Love’s reach for the first time all season. He was dancing around defenders, showing off his otherworldly bursts of speed and even making key contributions in the passing game. However, as fate would have it, Love took a knee to the ribs on the next play. The blow left him struggling to get up. After returning to his feet, Love hobbled off the field gingerly. It was a bleak sight for all Irish fans in attendance and the rest of those watching well into the night. If Love is unsuccessful in his quest for the Heisman, this play could be the reason why.
Love was officially diagnosed with bruised ribs. Although he did eventually re-enter the game before the end of the half, his snap count was limited. The record-breaking sensation was only able to gain an additional eight yards on the ground.
Meanwhile, Love’s biggest competitors in the Heisman race did what they had to. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza had limited production against Purdue, but still finished the season undefeated with the Hoosiers, an achievement that can’t be overstated. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin threw for three touchdowns, helping the Buckeyes get past arch-nemesis Michigan for the first time since 2019. Both were solid performances, but neither had a stand-alone “Heisman moment.”
The two highly-touted gunslingers are set to face off Saturday in the Big Ten Championship with the Heisman on the line. Even after breaking Bettis’ long-standing record, producing highlight-worthy moments galore and ranking in the top five for rushing yards despite not being among the top-20 in rush attempts, Love will likely have to take a backseat in the Heisman conversation.
But still, in the midst of this heartbreak for Love, it was never about personal glory.
“I wasn’t really focused on [the Heisman],” Love said when asked about his pregame mentality. “I came into this game focused on making sure that we end the season how we wanted to. I really didn’t come into it trying to do anything individually. I just wanted the best thing for my team. We ended up getting the best thing for our team, which was a win.”
Heisman Trophy or not, Love is ready to take on whatever is next for Notre Dame. While his injury gave Irish fans a quarter-long scare, it turned out to be minor. To Love, it was hardly anything at all.
“The guy just fell on my ribs,” Love said. “I went into the tent, felt like I was good immediately, but they wanted to make sure I was good. So, they took me back to do extra tests. Everything came out right. Just a bruise.”
However, it’s unfair to assume that Love’s Heisman odds are completely tanked. It’s all but certain that Love will represent Notre Dame in New York City at the ceremony on Dec. 13. Every major oddsmaker has Love within the top five. Heck, there is a possibility that both Mendoza and Sayin underperform in the Big Ten Championship. Hypothetically, that would open the door for a host of scenarios. One of them could be Love becoming Notre Dame’s eighth all-time Heisman Trophy recipient, the first since Tim Brown in 1987.
If given the opportunity to speak to the Heisman voters, Love was clear on the message he would deliver.
“I’d just say what I always say. When you’re looking at me, evaluating me, I’m a team player. I want the best for my guys. I’m the type of player that elevates everyone else around me,” he said.
Love later added to the message of team glory.
“Nothing is done by yourself,” he said. “Everything is a credit to your team and your coaches.”
Love’s touchdown against Navy, in which he miraculously avoided the ground at midfield, was the product of his own Houdini-style magic. The same can be said for his score against Penn State last season, when Love brushed off several Nittany Lions, including No. 3 draft pick Abdul Carter, and powered his way into the end zone. At the end of the day, Love’s willpower got the job done in both instances.
That’s exactly what makes Love special. He’s quick to deflect the praise that comes his way to those around him. It’s a redeeming quality that will continue to bolster his sky-high NFL Draft stock.
Love ultimately finished the season with 1,372 yards, a staggering six games with over 100 yards on the ground and 21 total touchdowns. Lauded by coaches for his character and celebrated by fans for his talent, Love has earned himself a ticket to New York City. Whether the Heisman ends up in his hands is beyond his control, but even in the face of the injury he sustained against the Cardinal, Love has done everything in his power to make a worthy case.
