Jeremiyah Love downplays national hype he is getting: 'I really could care less'

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love emerged as one of the premier running backs in the country last season and was a vital part in the Fighting Irish’s run to the National Championship Game. Love rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns in 16 games, including an incredible 98-yard touchdown in Notre Dame‘s 27-17 win over Indiana in its College Football Playoff First Round matchup.

Because of his stellar sophomore campaign, Love enters the 2025 season with some lofty expectations. He however revealed on Saturday that he doesn’t pay attention to the clutter.

“From the get-go, I’ve never really paid attention to stuff like that,” Love said. “I hear it and it’s cool to hear but at the end of the day everything really lies in my own work. That’s really all I care about at the end at the day. I really couldn’t care less about what anybody else has to say because I want to be complete with myself and prove to myself that I am who I I am. So pretty much just don’t listen to it. It could be good or it could be bad. I just try to tune everything out.”

Love was a four-star prospect out of Christian Brothers (St. Louis, MO), ranked as the No. 77 overall player in the Class of 2023. Of the four running backs ranked ahead of him however (Texas‘ CJ Baxter Jr., Michigan‘s Justice Haynes, Texas A&M‘s Reuben Owens and Alabama‘s Richard Young), Love is the lone back to record a 1,000 yard season.

Love’s 1,510 rushing yards through two seasons is only 386 less yards than those four running backs’ career rushing yards combined (1,896).

“[Jeremiyah] Love is something that we haven’t really seen at Notre Dame,” FOX College Football analyst Joel Klatt said earlier this week. “You know, like, Brian Kelly had good, physical, tough, you know, fundamentally sound teams. But, they would go against some of the SEC teams in the playoff or in the national championship game and they didn’t have the dynamic player that allows you to go out there and really compete. Well, guess what? Jeremiyah Love gives you that ability. He is a dynamic, athletic threat. And, for the Irish, this guy is outstanding.”

Notre Dame and its superstar running back opens the 2025 season on Aug. 31 against Miami. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM on ABC.