Notre Dame football attempting to steal a borderline Top-100 athlete out of the backyard of hated Fighting Irish rival
Jeremiyah Love, junior running back for Notre Dame, has garnered noteworthy attention during the preseason by earning a spot on the 2025 Maxwell Award Watch List, an honor that highlights him as one of college football’s most outstanding players before the season begins (One Foot Down). This prestigious recognition acknowledges his elite performance during the 2024 season and underscores his potential to contend for one of the sport’s top individual accolades.
Last season, Love delivered a standout campaign. He rushed for 1,125 yards, scoring 17 rushing touchdowns while averaging an impressive 6.9 yards per carry, placing him ninth nationally among players with at least 100 carries (One Foot Down). Remarkably, he had a rushing touchdown in each of Notre Dame’s first 13 games, setting a new school record for consecutive games with a touchdown to begin a season (One Foot Down). Beyond his rushing contributions, Love added two receiving touchdowns, demonstrating versatility as a scoring threat in both facets of the offense.
Notre Dame’s offense leaned heavily on its ground game in 2024, and Love played a central role. The Fighting Irish boasted one of the nation’s best rushing units, ranking fourth among Power 4 teams in yards per carry and sixth overall in total rushing offense (One Foot Down). Love, along with teammates Jadarian Price and Riley Leonard, formed the only FBS trio in 2024 to each surpass 700 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns (One Foot Down). The team accumulated 45 rushing touchdowns, leading all Power 4 programs and placing third across all FBS schools (One Foot Down).
Historic context further elevates Love’s recognition. He is already named a Preseason Walter Camp All-American, and his Maxwell nod places him in the company of six former Notre Dame players who have won the Maxwell Award — TE Leon Hart (1949), HB John Lattner (1952 and 1953), LB Jim Lynch (1966), DE Ross Browner (1977), QB Brady Quinn (2006), and LB Manti Te’o (2012) (One Foot Down). Should Love go on to win, he would become the first Irish running back to achieve that honor since Lattner.
In many years, the Maxwell Award skews toward quarterbacks and skill-position standouts with standout statistical seasons. The 2025 watch list, however, reflects broader diversity across positions, including running backs like Love (Athlon Sports). This season’s pool of 80 candidates features many of the top names in college football, but Love’s inclusion stands out given his position and the historic nature of his performance last season.
Delving further into his 2024 metrics, Love’s 6.9 yards per carry tied with Josh Adams’ mark in 2017 for second-highest single-season average among 1,000-yard rushers in Notre Dame history, second only to Reggie Brooks’ 8.0 yards per carry in 1992 (One Foot Down). That statistic underscores not just volume but elite efficiency. His ability to explode into long runs—recording touchdown bursts of 48, 64, 68, 76, and even 98 yards—showcased both his explosiveness and big-play impact (Athlon Sports).
Over the span of two seasons in South Bend, Love has already compiled 1,510 rushing yards on 234 carries, and he has caught 36 passes for 314 receiving yards, scoring a total of 21 touchdowns in just 17 starts (29 games) (Athlon Sports). That level of production at an early stage of his collegiate career projects him as a potentially impactful candidate for postseason honors and future NFL attention, cementing his stature among elite backs in the country.
Notre Dame’s forthcoming season shapes up as pivotal. With fall camp kicking off—and the Irish opening their 2025 campaign on August 31 at Miami (FL)—Love’s preseason Maxwell inclusion signals just how central he is to the team’s aspirations (https://www.wndu.com). With an experienced offensive line returning and a first‑time starting quarterback under center, the Irish will likely rely on Love’s consistency and explosiveness to anchor their offense (Athlon Sports).
Examining the broader Maxwell Watch List context, Notre Dame’s representation reflects the depth of talent across conferences. Alongside Love, Riley Leonard—a quarterback for Notre Dame—is also listed among the candidates for 2025, joining players such as Jalen Milroe, Carson Beck, Kaidon Salter, and others previously named watch list members in 2024 (umpsports.com). The Maxwell Club tends to release watch lists annually in late July or early August, as they did in July 2024 and July 2025 (maxwellfootballclub.org).
One clear indicator of the award’s history is that running backs sometimes emerge as winners, though quarterbacks frequently dominate. For instance, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty captured the award in 2024—the first running back to do so since Alabama’s Derrick Henry in 2015 (Athlon Sports). Therefore, Love’s inclusion may reflect a broader recognition that backs can contend, especially when their statistical output and consistency parallel or exceed those of high-profile quarterbacks.
It is worthwhile to contextualize Love’s trajectory within Notre Dame’s historical Maxwell pedigree. The Fighting Irish have produced Maxwell winners spanning multiple positions and eras, but none recently at running back. Leon Hart was a tight end in 1949; Lattner dominated in the early 1950s; Lynch, Browner, Quinn, and Te’o all represented different positions and decades. Love now has an opportunity to join that storied tradition while carving out a singular place as possibly the first running back from his university in decades to win the award (https://www.wndu.com).
As the season progresses, semifinalists are typically announced in mid-November, with finalists revealed later in the month and winners declared in early December at ceremonies such as the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show (umpsports.com). Love will need to sustain or exceed the excellence of his 2024 production to remain onscreen, as emerging stars from other schools will garner attention as well.
Notre Dame’s offensive line continuity and coaching staff confidence in Love as a focal point will be vital. Given his durability and the ability to find the end zone every week last season, Love offers both reliability and explosiveness. As defenses scheme to stop him, his receivers and quarterbacks will have opportunities as well—if defenses overcommit to contain him, it could open up the aerial attack and other offensive facets.
Statistically speaking, running backs who sustain rushing efficiency over a 200-carry threshold while improving yardage totals and maintaining touchdown streaks tend to draw postseason recognition. Should Love approach or exceed 1,200 rushing yards again—while preserving or exceeding his 6.9 yards per carry—he would bolster his MVP candidacy.
Additionally, durability and availability matter. Love’s ability to score in every regular-season game establishes a baseline of reliability that voters appreciate. Should he also contribute key plays in high-stakes matchups—such as college playoffs or rivalry games—voters often weigh clutch performance heavily. Maintaining health and showing consistency in all facets—rushing, receiving, pass protection—will further his All-America and Maxwell pursuit.
On a broader level, the Maxwell Award seeks to honor not just statistical leaders but true all-around contributions and standout players in college football. The watch list represents players across conferences and positions. Inclusion on such a list is an honor that combines preseason expectations with prior season excellence. For Love, it signals national recognition of his impact and potential heading into his junior year.
Critically, Love must navigate competition from the many quarterbacks and standout skill players listed. In 2025, other top-tier candidates from Power 4 schools—some returning semifinalists from prior seasons—will compete. Historically, quarterbacks often win, though running backs can break through with dominant seasons. The performance of Love’s teammates, the team’s success, Notre Dame’s schedule strength, and national prominence will all affect visibility.
In sum, Jeremiyah Love’s inclusion on the 2025 Maxwell Award Watch List marks a significant milestone in his collegiate career. It reflects both his exceptional 2024 season and expectations for further excellence in 2025. His 1,125 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, every-game scoring streak, and high yards‑per‑carry average set him apart. When combined with Notre Dame’s strong rushing attack and storied Maxwell history, Love is positioned to emerge as a leading national candidate. The recognition is not just an accolade—it’s a statement of his standing among the nation’s elite college football players as he heads into a crucial season.
As the season unfolds, fans and analysts will keep a close eye on Love’s production, consistency, and impact in key games. His journey from watch-list inclusion through potential semifinalist and finalist selection will hinge on maintaining the standards he set last year—and perhaps exceeding them. If he does, Love could be not only Notre Dame’s next running back to earn national honors—but the next Maxwell-winning Irish back in more than six decades.
Here’s a full-length article of approximately 1600 words on Jeremiyah Love being named to the Maxwell Award Watch List, without headings:
Jeremiyah Love has emerged as one of college football’s most dynamic offensive weapons, and his selection to the 2025 Maxwell Award Watch List confirms what many have come to believe: he is not only a key cog in the Notre Dame offense but also a player poised to challenge for national recognition. Love, entering his junior season with the Fighting Irish, has built a reputation as a lethal combination of speed, vision, and versatility. His presence on the watch list marks a significant step forward in what has already been an impressive collegiate career.
The Maxwell Award, presented annually to the most outstanding player in college football, is one of the sport’s most prestigious individual honors. Named after Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, a player, coach, and sportswriter who helped shape the early days of the game, the award has been given since 1937 to the best all-around performer in the nation. While quarterbacks often dominate the discussion, especially in the modern era of high-flying offenses and spread systems, running backs who demonstrate excellence across all phases of the game continue to make their mark on the award. Jeremiyah Love’s presence on the watch list makes him part of a select group of 80 players nationwide who are considered early contenders for the honor.
Love’s 2024 season put him squarely on the national radar. Over the course of 13 regular-season games and a bowl appearance, he rushed for 1,125 yards on just 163 carries, averaging an impressive 6.9 yards per attempt. That number ranked ninth in the nation among players with at least 100 carries, and it placed him among the elite in terms of efficiency and explosiveness. Just as impressively, Love scored a rushing touchdown in each of Notre Dame’s first 13 games, setting a school record for consecutive games with a rushing score to open a season. His consistency made him a nightmare for opposing defenses and a reliable producer for an Irish team that leaned heavily on its ground game.
Beyond the basic stats, Love’s ability to break big plays stood out. He registered multiple touchdown runs of over 60 yards, including a jaw-dropping 98-yard burst against a top-25 opponent late in the season. These kinds of game-changing plays have become his hallmark, and they underscore what makes him so dangerous: he can turn a routine handoff into a home run with just a crease. While some backs rack up yardage through sheer volume, Love’s efficiency and explosiveness distinguish him in a crowded field. Few players in the country can match his combination of production and potential.
In addition to his rushing prowess, Love proved himself to be a capable receiver out of the backfield, adding 211 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. His ability to contribute as a pass-catcher adds a critical dimension to his game and forces defensive coordinators to account for him on every down. Whether lined up in the backfield, motioned into the slot, or running routes off play action, Love presents a versatile threat that Notre Dame’s offensive staff has learned to exploit effectively. That dual-threat capability boosts his candidacy for the Maxwell Award, which favors players who impact multiple facets of the game.
Notre Dame’s 2024 offense finished among the nation’s most efficient units on the ground, ranking fourth in yards per carry among Power 4 teams and sixth in overall rushing offense. The Irish amassed 45 rushing touchdowns—more than any Power 4 team and third-most across all of FBS. Love played a pivotal role in that success, leading a trio of Notre Dame rushers (alongside Jadarian Price and quarterback Riley Leonard) who each rushed for over 700 yards and seven touchdowns. That level of balance is rare in modern college football and speaks to the quality of Notre Dame’s offensive line, play calling, and, most of all, the backfield depth headlined by Love.
Love’s emergence as a top offensive threat was no accident. A former four-star recruit out of St. Louis, Missouri, he arrived in South Bend with high expectations. As a freshman in 2023, he showed flashes of promise in limited action, rushing for nearly 400 yards while backing up established veterans. But it was in 2024 that he took a leap, stepping into the starting role and becoming the offensive engine for a team that made a New Year’s Six bowl appearance. His development reflects not only his physical gifts but also his work ethic and growing football IQ. Coaches have praised his maturity, his preparation, and his ability to read defenses and make quick decisions on the fly.
Historically, Notre Dame has a rich tradition of producing Maxwell Award winners, but it has been some time since a running back from South Bend has captured the honor. John Lattner remains the last Irish running back to win it, doing so in both 1952 and 1953. Other Notre Dame legends to take home the Maxwell include quarterback Brady Quinn (2006), linebacker Manti Te’o (2012), and defensive end Ross Browner (1977). Love now finds himself on the same preseason watch list that once included those iconic figures. It’s a nod not only to his performance but to his potential to join the ranks of Notre Dame greats.
Love’s consistency stands out in a college football landscape where injuries, committee backfields, and offensive rotations often limit production. His streak of 13 straight games with a rushing touchdown in 2024 not only broke a program record but also gave Notre Dame a sense of reliability from its backfield. Even in games where the Irish struggled offensively, Love managed to produce, often finding the end zone on sheer effort or explosive plays. That kind of dependability is rare and valuable, especially when it comes to awards voting later in the season.
Looking ahead to the 2025 campaign, Love’s candidacy for the Maxwell Award will depend heavily on how well he maintains—or even surpasses—his prior production. Notre Dame opens its season on the road against Miami (FL) on August 31, and the early stretch of the schedule includes multiple matchups against ranked opponents. That provides Love with the national platform necessary to make an early statement. If he performs well in high-visibility games, particularly against strong defenses, his name will quickly rise to the top of the Maxwell conversation.
There are also structural factors working in his favor. Notre Dame’s offensive line returns several key starters, and the unit is widely expected to be among the best in the country. That continuity up front bodes well for Love’s ability to find space and maintain his high yards-per-carry average. Additionally, with a first-year starting quarterback set to take the reins, the Irish are likely to lean even more on their run game in the early part of the season. That could result in even more opportunities for Love to make an impact—and pad his stats in the process.
Still, the path to winning the Maxwell is never easy, especially for a running back. Quarterbacks continue to dominate national awards due to their central role in most offenses and the gaudy numbers they often produce. Love will be competing against a stacked field that includes signal-callers from across the Power 4, many of whom are returning Heisman candidates or already projected high NFL draft picks. To break through that noise, Love will need to combine eye-popping numbers with team success. If Notre Dame makes a run to the College Football Playoff and Love is the centerpiece of that effort, his odds of capturing the Maxwell will increase dramatically.
One thing working in Love’s favor is that the Maxwell Club has recently shown more openness to recognizing running backs. In 2024, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty became the first non-quarterback to win the Maxwell Award in nearly a decade. That shift in voting patterns could create an opening for someone like Love, particularly if he matches or exceeds Jeanty’s production while playing for a higher-profile team. Notre Dame’s national following, media exposure, and independent status guarantee that Love’s accomplishments won’t go unnoticed if he continues to dominate.
There’s also the intangibles factor. Love’s leadership qualities have become more visible as he’s grown into his role at Notre Dame. Teammates and coaches frequently cite his unselfishness, his willingness to block, and his team-first mentality. Those traits, while not easily quantifiable, matter to Maxwell voters who look beyond raw stats to assess a player’s overall value to his team and program. Love has become a tone-setter for the Irish, the kind of player whose effort and attitude elevate those around him.
In terms of his long-term outlook, Love is also attracting the attention of NFL scouts. His combination of size, speed, and balance projects well to the next level, and he is expected to be among the top running backs in the 2026 draft class should he declare early. A Maxwell Award win—or even a finalist finish—would cement his reputation and further raise his draft stock. But for now, Love and Notre Dame are focused on the season ahead, where the goals are clear: win football games, contend for a national title, and help one of college football’s brightest stars achieve greatness.
Jeremiyah Love’s inclusion on the Maxwell Award Watch List is both a recognition of past excellence and a projection of what may lie ahead. In a sport where preseason lists are often filled with hype and potential, Love stands out as a player who has already delivered. If he can continue to produce at an elite level, maintain his health, and lead Notre Dame to prominence in 2025, he will not only remain in the Maxwell conversation—he may very well end up accepting the trophy in December.
