Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love Cleared for Orange Bowl Despite Injury

DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman announced Wednesday that star running back Jeremiyah Love “will be good to go” for Thursday’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl. Speaking at a joint news conference with Penn State coach James Franklin, Freeman acknowledged that “nobody feels 100 percent” at this stage of the season but confirmed Love’s availability for the game.

Love, who leads the Fighting Irish with 1,076 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season, re-injured his knee during Notre Dame’s 23-10 victory over Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl last week. He did not return to the game after the third-quarter setback. Freeman emphasized that Love has had a productive week of practice, though the team has been cautious about his workload. “We have to be smart in terms of how much we’re asking him to do in practice,” Freeman said. “But he’s confident, and J-Love will be good to go.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock echoed Freeman’s optimism earlier in the week, stating that Love “feels like he’s going to be ready to go.” However, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Love is unlikely to be at full strength, which could significantly impact Notre Dame’s game plan. Thamel suggested that quarterback Riley Leonard and backup running back Jadarian Price may see increased roles in the running game to compensate for Love’s limitations.

Leonard played a pivotal role in Notre Dame’s Sugar Bowl victory, rushing for 80 yards on 14 carries and accounting for 37% of the team’s total rushing yards. Thamel noted that Leonard’s mobility could be a key factor against Penn State, especially if Love is unable to replicate his usual explosiveness. “We’re going to see more Riley Leonard called runs,” Thamel said. “For a quarterback to run for 37% of the yards, that’s like military academy stuff.”

Love’s health has been a concern since he initially injured his knee in Notre Dame’s regular-season finale against Stanford. Despite the setback, he remains one of the team’s most dynamic playmakers, as evidenced by his 98-yard touchdown run in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Thamel described Love’s impact when healthy as “like smoke through a keyhole,” but cautioned that his effectiveness may be limited in the Orange Bowl. “He will not have that elite burst that we saw in the Indiana game,” Thamel said.

As Notre Dame prepares for its semifinal matchup, the team’s ability to adapt its offensive strategy could prove crucial. With Love’s status uncertain, the Fighting Irish may rely on a combination of Leonard’s mobility and Price’s versatility to keep Penn State’s defense off balance. The game is scheduled for Thursday night at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.