Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love signs new NIL deal with New Balance

Notre Dame superstar running back Jeremiyah Love announced the signing of a new NIL deal with New Balance shoes in a joint Instagram post Tuesday morning. New Balance further confirmed the signing in a press release Tuesday.

Fresh off last season’s appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship game, Love becomes the latest college athlete to join New Balance’s roster of talent joining former Ohio State stars Marvin Harrison Jr. and Chase Young, as the brand goes all-in on college football.

Love broke out last season with the Fighting Irish, leading a dynamic Notre Dame run game with a career-high 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024. A big-play threat anytime he touches the football, Love’s “breakaway speed and highlight-reel hurdles” make him an ideal candidate to represent New Balance.

“Joining the New Balance family is more than just a partnership – it’s a chance to be part of something bigger,” Love said in the New Balance press release. “From my first conversation with the brand, I knew it was the right fit for me and my family. I’m all about comfort, and I’m excited to go on this journey with a brand that supports me and helps me perform at the highest level.”

New Balance first lauched its foray into college football in June 2024, bringing “a fresh, athlete-first perspective to the sport,” according to its press release. As part of his new NIL sponsorship deal, Love will play a key role in helping the company “shape the next generation of performance footwear” at the New Balance Sports Research Lab. Love will also work with New Balance to host community events in South Bend and his hometown of St. Louis, “furthering the brand’s commitment to community and empowering the next generation of athletes,” per the press release.

“Jeremiyah brings a rare combination of athleticism, intelligence, and heart to everything he does,” Naveen Lokesh, Head of Global Sports Marketing for American Football and Basketball at New Balance, said in the release. “He’s a game-changer on the field and a thoughtful leader off of it. His drive and commitment to uplifting those around him makes him a perfect fit for New Balance. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the family and very excited for what’s ahead.”

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).

— On3’s Daniel Hager contributed to this report.