Notre Dame’s running back Jeremiyah Love is anticipated to take the field as a starter on Thursday during the Orange Bowl against the sixth-seeded Penn State. This pivotal match will showcase the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish’s renowned rushing attack, aiming to perform at or near full strength in the inaugural College Football Playoff semifinal.
Love faced a right knee injury setback late in the third quarter of Notre Dame’s successful 23-10 outing against second-seeded Georgia during the Sugar Bowl. He underwent assessments twice in the medical tent before resuming play with a significant brace on his knee.
Head coach Marcus Freeman addressed the media over the weekend, providing an update on the team’s health that indicated Love was not listed on the injury report. “The only injury update from the game is that Cooper Flanagan is out for the remainder of the College Football Playoff due to a foot injury,” Freeman noted, referring to the backup tight end. “We’ll miss Coop and wish him the best, but aside from that, everyone else appears to be in good shape. It was a fairly clean game in terms of injuries.”
This clarification suggests that Love, alongside quarterback Riley Leonard, is poised to continue spearheading the ground efforts. In addition, backup running backs Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams are expected to provide essential support as the Irish (13-1, No. 3 CFP) pursue their first opportunity to compete in a national championship game since the 2012 season.
Although Love did not engage with reporters on Saturday and is not slated for media interactions before the clash with the Big Ten runner-up Nittany Lions (13-2, No. 5), Pitt’s Price is set to speak later.
Love has been a crucial component of Notre Dame’s offense this season. He has accumulated 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, boasting an impressive average of 7.3 yards per carry. Remarkably, he set a school milestone by scoring touchdowns in 13 consecutive games, a streak that concluded against Georgia.
In the opening round against 10th-seeded Indiana, Love established momentum with a phenomenal 98-yard touchdown run, marking the longest in playoff history, even as he battled both the flu and the knee injury sustained during the regular season finale against Southern California.
However, Love’s influence extends beyond mere statistics; his ability to evade defenders has inspired his teammates. This season, he has successfully hurdled 10 opponents, which includes an attempt during the Indiana game where he aggravated his knee. His resilience, especially when injured or unwell, has instilled a sense of tenacity within the Irish’s locker room. Moreover, his explosive skills enhance Leonard’s threat as a running quarterback.
As a result, the Fighting Irish only required 90 passing yards to triumph over the SEC champions, the Bulldogs, in New Orleans.
Having Love in the lineup is deemed essential for the Irish, who seek to cease a 36-year national championship drought, the longest span without a title since the team initially claimed its first in 1924.
Should Love be less than 100%, the Irish boast several alternatives. Leonard has already set a record for quarterback rushing touchdowns in a season (15) and needs just 169 rushing yards to achieve a personal milestone of 1,000 yards. Meanwhile, Price has displayed versatility as both a dynamic runner and dependable workhorse, while freshman Williams has become increasingly integrated into the rotation, registering half of his total 32 carries in the past four games.
Price expressed confidence in his readiness for the challenge ahead, stating, “I always feel like there’s more I could contribute every game. The positive aspect of our win is that it presents another chance to improve, and we’re focused on optimizing our performance.”
The unique dynamics of the Irish’s running game have raised concerns for their opponents during a 12-game winning streak, leading to the program’s first-ever 13-win season.
On the opposite side, Penn State faces a potential setback with All-American defensive end Abdul Carter’s health after he sustained an apparent left arm injury during their 31-14 Fiesta Bowl victory over Boise State. Coach James Franklin commented on Saturday that Carter might be available for the game but may have limitations in his performance.
“His recovery is progressing positively, and his mindset is strong,” Franklin shared. “Ultimately, it will depend on how he feels and how much practice he can participate in. Right now, there’s nothing indicating he can’t play; it’s more about his capability to contribute effectively.”
