Jeremiyah Love going viral every weekend isn’t a surprise at this point.
The St. Louis native is a walking highlight and Love once again had the country buzzing with a 56-yard touchdown in the 37-15 victory over Pitt on Saturday.
Love used a spin move to get into the open field and it jump-started his fifth 100-yard rushing effort of the season.
“Everybody executed great blocks, ran it out,” Love recalled. “Seeing the safety coming down at kind of an angle, so I kind of knew I was going to go back to the left. I just tried to set them up with a spin move and kept running. Touchdown.”
It was a statement play.
Individually, it sent a clear message to Pitt and the Heisman committee. Collectively, it showed Notre Dame was locked in for the top-25 matchup.
Looking back, several Notre Dame players felt Pitt disrespected them during the week, adding fuel to the fire, but Love said he wasn’t caught up in the talk.
“I feel like they didn't respect us,” explained Love. “They didn't really talk about how aggressive we were as a team. They didn't really talk about how we were basically just dominators. It was kind of a little disrespectful. They had a lack of respect for us.
“I didn't use it for motivation. I really could care less what anybody else thinks. I’m still going to go out there and do my thing. Looking back, there was a little bit of lack of respect.”
Not everything was a highlight for Love, as Pitt sold out to stop the run. Even so, the 6-foot, 214-pounder finished with 23 carries for 147 yards and a score.
Love knew the day would require grit, and he embraced every tough yard.
“This game was a game where we had to pound it in there,” said Love. “We had to get some three or four-yard runs and wait for the big one to come, and then when it comes, take advantage of the opportunity. Three or four-yard runs and those small games are essential to our success as an offense.”
Notre Dame’s offensive line might have two new starters, but Love was impressed with the body of work from the guys up front.
“Our offensive line went out there and just moved guys around,” Love stated. “They went out there, played with violence, executed every single play and were just strong throughout the whole game.
“Our offensive line played their butts off.”
Love’s touchdown run wasn’t the only highlight that captured the nation on Saturday. Malachi Fields pulled down one of the most impressive catches of the year and Love had a front row seat.
“I thought it was crazy,” smiled Love. “I don't even think Malachi thought he was going to catch that ball. It was a crazy catch. I love to see stuff like that. I love to see guys make spectacular plays on offense and defense. It was the best play of the game, in my opinion. The defense had Adon (Shuler) catching that interception, way in the end zone, taking it all the way back to the crib.
“I just love seeing my guys have success and just doing what they have to do to help this team achieve team glory. They make spectacular plays and it gets me going. I love to see it.”
Notre Dame has now won eight straight, and there’s no sign of the Irish slowing down.
For Love, the key to the winning streak is the people inside The Gug.
“We've got great coaches and great people in our program,” said Love. “We've got coaches like Coach Free, Coach Seider, all the defensive guys. We've got great coaches who motivate us to never give up and just do what we've got to do to finish the season how we want to finish it.
“Speaking on our brotherhood, we're really close in the group. Everybody cares for each other. There's no offense on this side of the locker room or defense on this side of the locker room. Everybody's together at all times. I feel like that togetherness has helped us to fight through adversity and just win games and just make it as far as we have.”
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