Jeremiyah Love Reflects on Notre Dame’s Playoff Hopes and Heisman Journey

Notre Dame’s football team shocked a lot of people by deciding to skip all bowl games this season after missing out on the College Football Playoff (CFP). Star running back Jeremiyah Love called it a *team decision*, saying they wanted to protect the integrity and identity of the 2025 squad.

This move has stirred up plenty of chatter about how teams get chosen and what goes on behind the scenes in college football. It’s especially wild considering Notre Dame closed out the season on a 10-game winning streak.

Notre Dame’s Decision to Skip Bowl Games

Notre Dame usually sits among college football royalty, but this year brought something different. They finished 10-2, looked strong down the stretch, and still ended up as the first team left out of the CFP.

That snub led them to say no thanks to any bowl invites. Some fans and analysts love the call, others not so much—everyone’s got an opinion.

The Season Recap

The 2025 campaign started rocky for the Irish. They dropped two close games to Miami and Texas A&M, losing by a combined four points.

Those early losses put a lot of pressure on the rest of their season, leaving their playoff hopes in the hands of the CFP committee. Notre Dame then rattled off ten straight wins, but the committee still ranked them just outside the top 12, so the playoffs were out of reach.

Jeremiyah Love’s Perspective

Jeremiyah Love, who turned heads all year and ended up a Heisman finalist, hasn’t been shy about the team’s choice. He said the group wanted to make sure they represented themselves the right way.

*We felt like we had a very special group, and at the end of the season, we weren’t going to have the same team that we did going into the bowl game,* Love said. He pointed out that a bunch of key players might sit out the bowl, which would change the whole vibe.

Heisman Trophy Finalist

Love’s numbers this year? Pretty unreal. He racked up 1,372 rushing yards and is trying to be the first running back since Derrick Henry in 2015 to win the Heisman.

The other finalists are quarterbacks: Diego Pavia from Vanderbilt, Fernando Mendoza from Indiana, and Julian Sayin from Ohio State. Mendoza and Sayin have their teams sitting at the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the CFP, while Pavia’s Vanderbilt squad is heading to the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa.

Controversy and Criticism

Leaving Notre Dame out of the CFP has definitely kicked up some controversy. Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua didn’t hold back, calling out the selection process and the ACC for what he sees as politicking to get Miami in instead.

Notre Dame plays as an independent in football, but they’ve got a tight relationship with the ACC for scheduling and in pretty much every other sport.

Selection Process Debate

All this has reignited the old arguments about whether the CFP selection process is fair or even makes sense. Critics say it’s inconsistent and leans toward certain teams, pointing to Notre Dame’s strong finish as proof they deserved a shot.

Bevacqua’s public complaints have only added more fuel to the fire, and some folks are calling for a serious look at how playoff teams get picked.

Looking Ahead

The disappointment stings, but the Irish aren’t just sulking. They wrapped up their season with a charity event, showing they’re still about more than just football.

Love and his teammates say they’re proud of what they accomplished. They’re already thinking about next year and how to build on what they started.

Future Prospects

Choosing to skip the bowl game could set a new example for other top teams that feel snubbed. Notre Dame’s putting team identity and pride ahead of just another postseason appearance, and honestly, that’s kind of refreshing.

Next season? Who knows. But you can bet the lessons from this year are going to stick with them as they figure out their next move.

Conclusion

Notre Dame’s 2025 football season has felt like a wild ride. The team stumbled out of the gate, but they managed to pull themselves together by the end.