Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish felt Jeremiyah Love’s absence on offense. After the running back left for the NFL in this year’s draft, fans witnessed the team’s offensive struggles during Sunday’s season opener against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Wisconsin took an early lead after kicker Gavin Lahm scored a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter. Notre Dame equalized after Spencer Porath’s 52-yard field goal. Freeman’s team took a 10-3 lead after quarterback C.J. Carr found Flanigan with a three-yard TD pass.
In the second quarter, Colton Joseph leveled the score at 10-10 after a 28-yard TD pass to wide receiver Malachi Coleman. Notre Dame’s offensive momentum then took a backseat. However, Porath added another field goal to give his team a 13-10 lead heading into halftime.
Social media was flooded with reactions discussing Jeremiyah Love’s absence and its impact on Notre Dame’s lackluster run game on Sunday.
Coming out of high school, Jeremiyah Love had offers from programs like Michigan and Alabama. However, he decided to commit to Notre Dame. During his freshman campaign, he served as the fifth-string option on the running back depth chart. Love recorded 385 yards and one TD rushing.
During the 2024 campaign, Marcus Freeman named Love as the starting running back. He put up 1,125 yards and 17 TDs rushing, helping the team compete in the national championship game, where they lost to Ohio State.
Last season, Love once again impressed, recording 1,372 yards and 18 TDs rushing. However, Notre Dame failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing with a 10-2 record. The Arizona Cardinals drafted Love with the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.
Jeremiyah Love showcases support for Notre Dame RB Aneyas Williams
Following Love’s departure, Marcus Freeman and his team will be relying on Aneyas Williams during the 2026 season. He got the opportunity to showcase his worth during Sunday’s season opener against Wisconsin.
In the third quarter, Aneyas Williams scored a three-yard rushing TD to give Notre Dame a 20-10 lead. Jeremiyah Love took to social media to showcase his support for his successor and celebrate his score.
Williams scored another TD in the fourth quarter to give his team a comfortable 34-13 lead. He joined Notre Dame in 2024. In the past two seasons, the running back posted 443 yards and seven TDs rushing.
Also Read:
Trouble for Kentucky After Will Stein Denounces “Sloppy” Scrimmage as Weather Becomes Talking Point
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!