Jeremiyah Love injury updates: Latest news on Notre Dame RB after exiting game with upper body injury

Daniel Mader

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Jeremiyah Love injury updates: Latest news on Notre Dame RB after exiting game with upper body injury image

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have been tracking toward another playoff appearance, seeking to finish the job in 2025 after their runner-up finish last season.

Behind head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has firmly been in the CFP race late in the regular season. Running back Jeremiyah Love has remained a massive part of that success, with over 1,300 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns entering Week 14.

In the Irish's regular season-concluding matchup against Stanford, there was momentary concern for Love when he exited with an apparent torso injury, but he then returned later in the game. 

Here's the latest on Love after he left, then returned, to Saturday's game.

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Jeremiyah Love injury updates

Love already had nine carries for 58 yards and a touchdown against Stanford in the first quarter of Saturday's game before his exit. He would return by the end of the second quarter. 

Around the halfway point of the first frame, Love walked to the sideline under his own power after being down for a moment. He appeared to grab at his midsection as he went to the sideline. He briefly entered the locker room but exited shortly thereafter and rejoined his teammates on the sideline, sporting a smile.

Trainers appeared to look at Love's ribs, and he went into the injury tent afterward, per Tyler Horka. While Love initially looked ready to return with his helmet in his hand, he then exited the sideline to go to the locker room after a second trip to the injury tent.

Stormy Buonantony reported that Love went back to the locker room to get fitted for a rib protector, and he then warmed back up and gave a thumbs up to the crowd, with "a King-Kong pounding of his chest," per Matt Fortuna.

Given that report, Love appears to have avoided a serious injury. He was seen re-joining the Irish on the sideline, and around the end of the second quarter, he returned to the game vs. Stanford.

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What happened to Jeremiyah Love?

On a second-down play in the first quarter of Saturday's game, Love ran for four yards on the ground against Stanford, then remained on the ground in pain afterward. While he did go back to the locker room, he later returned to the game.

Trainers spoke with Love on the field, and he went to the injury tent multiple times before heading to the locker room. He appeared to be grabbing at his midsection while on the field. He did not appear to be seriously injured as he interacted with his teammates on the sideline, and he came back in the second quarter.

Notre Dame RB depth chart

RankPlayer
1Jeremiyah Love
2Jadarian Price
3Aneyas Williams

Love has been the powerhouse of the Notre Dame offense for multiple seasons now, becoming a Heisman Trophy contender with his dominance on the ground. Love had 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground in 2024, then has followed it up with over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025 entering Week 14.

The dynamic of the Irish's offense would change a lot in any scenarios without Love, given his talents and weekly dominance. However, junior Jadarian Price has proven himself as a worthy starter if needed — as an RB2, he's totaled 659 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground this season. In fact, when Love briefly exited vs. Stanford, Price proceeded to find the end zone on the same drive.

Price would see a large bulk of the carries for Notre Dame if Love would ever miss any time, but sophomore Aneyas Williams could also see a role, with 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns so far in 2025.

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