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'He's a stud': Why Jerome Bettis is high on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•07/02/25•

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Notre Dame offensive players celebrate a Jeremiyah Love touchdown. (Photo by Mike Miller/BGI)

Jeremiyah Love doesn’t really have a nickname.

J Love, sure, but we’re talking about something other than a shortened version of his actual name. The play on “Love” has worked in his favor in the form of a go-to, catchy, repeatable touchdown celebration — throwing up his hands in a heart shape — but the Notre Dame junior running back still isn’t called something like, say, “The Bus.”

That takes us to former Fighting Irish tailback Jerome Bettis. You know, The Bus. He didn’t come up with a nickname for Love in his recent interview with Zach Gelb of “The Zach Gelb Show,” but he did call Love something other than his name. It wasn’t difficult to arrive at, either.

“He’s a stud,” Bettis told Gelb.

No kidding.

It’s the offseason of Love — capitalized because, yes, we’re still talking about Jeremiyah. Everyone else is too. He recently got ranked the third-highest rated player in EA Sports’ College Football 26 video game. He’s gotten some Heisman Trophy buzz since the end of the 2024 season. He’sgotten some rave reviews in 2026 NFL Draft look-aheads as well.

In short — what’s not to like about the guy who averaged 6.9 yards per carry and scored 19 touchdowns as a true sophomore? Not a lot, if anything. A little more thoroughly explained as to why?

Just take it from Bettis.

“Not only is he explosive and dynamic, but he’s physical,” Bettis said. “He’s not afraid to run in between the tackles. I think that’s what I love about him and his ability, what he can do. I’m really excited about what he brings to the table this coming year because I think they’re going to have a really good football team. They got a really good offensive line. I think Jeremiyah Love will be able to go out there and make some things happen.”

Bettis called the quarterback situation Notre Dame’s “one big question mark” coming off a season in which the Irish played for the national title. The quarterback who led ND to that grand stage is not too far away; he’s still in Indiana as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. But by way of graduation from the college to professional ranks, Riley Leonard is indeed gone. And he’ll be replaced by either sophomore CJ Carr or junior Kenny Minchey.

As the Irish acclimate to leaning into the strengths of whichever signal caller wins the job, Bettis has an idea — lean on Love. That works every time, nickname or not. In this sense, anyway.

“While they’re figuring it out, it gives Jeremiyah Love an opportunity to go out and have some huge games early in the season,” Bettis said.

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