81 days until Notre Dame football: Where Jeremiyah Love ranks on early Heisman Trophy watch lists
BlueandGold.com will release a countdown article highlighting a significant Notre Dame football statistic every day until the 2025 season opener at Miami at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 in Miami Gardens, Fla. Today, there are 81 days until the Irish and Hurricanes kick off at Hard Rock Stadium.
Notre Dame’s last Heisman Trophy winner was Tim Brown, who wore No. 81 for the Irish and was named the most outstanding player in college football in 1987.
Could junior running back Jeremiyah Love bring the sport’s ultimate individual award back to South Bend? It’s possible, but for reasons we’ve discussed many times on this website, it’s unlikely. Love will probably not receive enough touches in order to put up the numbers required to generate real Heisman consideration.
Still, Love’s name has appeared on most early-season Heisman watch lists. Here’s where four major outlets have him ranked.
ESPN: No. 8
They said it: “Love ranked second last year in yards after contact per rush (among running backs with at least 150 carries) after averaging 4.41 yards, only trailing Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick in last month’s NFL draft. Love, who figures to get more touches for the Irish in 2025, could be the first back off the board in next year’s draft.”
Lindy’s Sports: No. 10
They said it: “Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty made a run at the Heisman last season, finishing second to much anger in Idaho, and Love takes over the title as the toughest dude to bring down in college football.”
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Athlon Sports: Tier 2
Four players comprised Tier 2 of Athlon’s Heisman Watch: Love, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams.
The following 10 players are ranked above Love in Tier 1: Texas quarterback Arch Manning, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and Miami quarterback Carson Beck.
Phil Steele: Contender
Fourteen players comprised of the “contender” tier, which Steele described as such: “This list is heavy on talented QB’s and RB’s who could put up big stats for national title contenders, which has been the formula for 21 of the last 24 Heisman contenders.”
The 10 players Steele ranked above Love are as follows: Klubnik, Nussmeier, Manning, Lagway, Allar, Smith, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, Sellers, Leavitt and Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton.