Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IRISH ECHOES JIM LEFEBVRE 42 JANUARY 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED T here is little doubt that Jeremiyah Love finished his college career as one of the greatest running backs in Notre Dame history — and that's some lofty company. From early stars like Red Salmon and George Gipp, to later 20th century stal- warts such as Autry Denson and Allen Pinkett, the pantheon of Irish running backs is an impressive list for Love to join. Perhaps head coach Marcus Freeman said it best: "He's as special of a foot- ball player as I've been around. Every time he has the ball in his hands, he can make something positive happen. He is as dangerous of an offensive weapon that I've been around." Whether it's his "escapability," his scintillating jumps and spins, or his relentless, play-extending drive, Love has captured the hearts of Fighting Irish fans as the epitome of Notre Dame spirit and effort. He's a living, breathing high- light film for all time. In last year's College Football Playoff alone, his 98-yard sprint against In- diana and his tackle-breaking 2-yard score against Penn State encapsulated the variety of ways he can beat you. What do the numbers say about Love's accomplishments? After the 2025 season, here's where Love stands among Notre Dame's top all-time rushers in yards gained: Rk. Player (Years) Yards 1. Autry Denson (1995-98) 4,318 2. Allen Pinkett (1982-85) 4,131 3. Vegas Ferguson (1976-79) 3,472 4. Darius Walker (2005-06) 3,249 5. Josh Adams (2015-17) 3,198 6. Julius Jones (1999-2003) 3,018 7. Jeremiyah Love (2023-25) 2,882 8. Jerome Heavens (1975-78) 2,682 9. Cierre Wood (2009-12) 2,447 10. Phil Carter (1979-82) 2,409 11. George Gipp (1917-20) 2,341 12. Audric Estimé (2021-23) 2,321 Love made his mark in only two sea- sons of being the featured running back and sharing snaps with backup Jadarian Price during that time. Also, he has been rested in the fourth quarter of numerous blowouts. Despite all that, he's managed to break into Notre Dame's all-time top 10 in rushing yards per game: Rk. Player (Years) Games Yds./G 1. Allen Pinkett (1982-85) 43 96.1 2. Autry Denson (1995-98) 45 96.0 3. Darius Walker (2005-06) 36 90.3 4. George Gipp (1917-20) 27 86.7 5. Vagas Ferguson (1976-79) 41 84.7 6. Josh Adams (2015-17) 38 84.2 7. Kyren Williams (2019-21) 28 76.9 8. Jerome Heavens (1975-78) 35 76.6 9. Jeremiyah Love (2023-25) 41 76.3 10. Marchy Schwartz (1929-31) 28 69.4 Perhaps the best reflection of overall effectiveness is average yards per carry, and here Love ranks third all time, trail- ing only Reggie Brooks and Don Miller, each with significantly fewer career carries. Even Gipp, who ran for an as- tounding 8.1 yards per carry in 1920, ranks behind Love in career average. Rk. Player (Years) Att. Avg. 1. Reggie Brooks (1989-92) 198 7.62 2. Don Miller (1922-24) 283 6.83 3. Jeremiyah Love (2023-25) 433 6.66 4. Josh Adams (2015-17) 481 6.65 5. Christie Flanagan (1926-28) 285 6.39 6. Dexter Williams (2015-18) 257 6.37 7. George Gipp (1917-20) 369 6.34 8. Jim Crowley (1922-24) 294 6.26 9. Audric Estimé (2021-23) 373 6.22 10. George Atkinson III (2011-13) 153 6.16 It's worth noting that Price is just outside of this top 10, having averaged 6.04 yards per carry (1,692 on 280 at- tempts), bolstering the notion that the Love-Price combination is the stron- gest in Notre Dame history. Of course, it's Love's unique ability to break free and race to the end zone from anywhere on the field that has so capti- vated the football world the past three seasons. In 2024, he scored a touch- down in 13 consecutive games, break- ing the school record of 11 set by Wayne Bullock in 1973-74. And this season's 21 overall touchdowns are a school single- season record. Here's where Love stands in all-time rushing touchdowns, tied for third all time with Notre Dame's first great back, Louis "Red" Salmon: Rk. Player (Years) TD 1. Allen Pinkett (1982-85) 49 2. Autry Denson (1995-98) 43 3. Jeremiyah Love (2023-25) 36 Louis "Red" Salmon (1900-03) 5. Vagas Ferguson (1976-79) 32 Anthony Johnson (1986-89) 7. Stan Cofall (1914-16) 30 8. Audric Estimé (2021-23) 29 Neil Worden (1951-53) 10. Jerome Bettis Sr. (1990-92) 27 During one five-game stretch this season, from Southern Cal through Syracuse, Love had a run of 48 or more yards in each game, including a 94-yard touchdown scamper against Boston College. Explosive runs have been his specialty. Here's where he stands among Notre Dame career bests in runs of 20 or more yards. Rk. Player (Years) 20+ Runs 1. Autry Denson (1995-98) 31 2. Julius Jones (1999-2003) 28 3. Josh Adams (2015-17) 27 4. Jeremiyah Love (2023-25) 25 Vagas Ferguson (1976-79) 25 6. Randy Kinder (1993-96) 21 7. Audric Estimé (2021-23) 20 Lee Becton (1991-94) 9. Tony Rice (1987-89) 19 10. Allen Pinkett (1982-85) 18 Consistency has been a hallmark of Love's career. He's gained 100 or more Jeremiyah Love Climbed The Ranks As One Of Notre Dame's All-Time Best Love scored 21 overall touchdowns in 2025, set- ting the school's single-season school record. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER