Despite claiming he will win the 2025 Heisman Trophy award, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love insists that he is not focused on his individual hype ahead of the upcoming college football season.

Instead, Love maintains that his primary focus is on helping the Irish be the best version they can be in 2025. After falling one game short of a national title in January, Love says that improving his game is “all [he] cares about” in the offseason.

“From the get-go, I’ve never really paid attention to stuff like that,” Love said, via On3 Sports. “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 of 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 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 is coming off a breakout sophomore campaign, leading the team with 1,125 rushing yards and 19 total touchdowns in 2024. Despite Notre Dame's loaded backfield in 2025, Love is widely viewed as one of the best running backs in the country and a Heisman Trophy favorite.

Notre Dame looking to lean on Jeremiyah Love in 2025

Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman waits to run onto the field during the Blue-Gold game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-Imagn Images
Michael Caterina-Imagn Images

Coming off one of their best seasons in program history, the Notre Dame football team has high hopes for the 2025 season. Although quarterback Riley Leonard exhausted his NCAA eligibility, the Irish still have a sky-high outlook with freshman phenom CJ Carr set to take over under center.

As highly regarded as Carr is, Notre Dame will still heavily lean on Love and its experienced running back corps. The Irish return four of their top five rushers from the 2024 season, with Leonard the lone exception. The group is still relatively young, with Love and Jadarian Price the only upperclassmen.

Notre Dame's new-look team will be tested out of the gates. The Irish open the 2025 season against the Carso Beck-led Miami Hurricanes, only to turn around and face Texas A&M in Week 2. Their upcoming schedule also includes matchups with USC, Boise State, Navy and Syracuse.

More NCAA Football News
Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) throws the ball against the Southern California Trojans in the first half at Allegiant Stadium.
Texas A&M lands massive QB pickup to jumpstart 2027 classLorenzo J Reyna ·
Monitors with signage in Kenan Stadium announcing the hiring of North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick at Loudermilk Center for Excellence.
North Carolina football’s Bill Belichick lands 4-star RB over Texas, Notre DameBenjamin Adducchio ·
North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence.
North Carolina football’s Bill Belichick drops stern bottom line amid position battlesBenjamin Adducchio ·
Colorado Buffalos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium.
Colorado football OC Pat Shurmur gets 100% real on QB competitionJackson Stone ·
Bryce Underwood, 17, a freshman quarterback at Michigan and the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class, left, stands next to Michigan State junior quarterback Aidan Chiles, 19, during a private workout
How Bryce Underwood is impacting 5-star QB’s Michigan football recruitmentScotty White ·
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy points down the field during the second half of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Washington at NRG Stadium
4-star Michigan football QB target nearing decisionScotty White ·