Every year, it’s the same question:
Is this finally Notre Dame’s time?
This season, however, that whisper feels heavier, grounded not in hope, but in evidence. The No. 9 Fighting Irish are building something sturdy, something complete, something that resembles the blueprint of a champion. They rank 8th nationally in scoring offense (39 PPG) and 15th in scoring defense (18.4 allowed), a rare harmony in a sport increasingly defined by extremes.
That balance took center stage against No. 22 Pittsburgh.
Notre Dame jumped ahead early when Mason Heintschel’s first-quarter pass sailed into the waiting arms of Tae Johnson and was brought back for six. A 14–0 lead. A tone set. A reminder that Notre Dame’s defense can still swing games like a sledgehammer.
Then came Jeremiyah Love, swift, relentless, and impossibly difficult to bottle up. Love ran 23 times for 147 yards and a touchdown, once again looking every bit like the elite back he’s become. His blend of patience and explosion anchors this Notre Dame offense.
The Irish have hovered on the edge of glory for a decade plus, brushing against championship windows but never breaking through. Heartbreaking losses on the big stage have haunted them. Near misses have defined them.
But this team feels different. Balanced. Mature. Built for the postseason.
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