Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love Finishes Third in Heisman Trophy Voting

The junior running back etched his name into Irish history with a record-breaking 2025 season.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 5:31pm

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When a generational talent steps on the field, they're easy to pick out. For Notre Dame, junior running back Jeremiyah Love was exactly that. In 2025, the do-it-all playmaker etched his name into the Irish history books, recording a record-breaking 21 total touchdowns. Love became the first Golden Domer since Manti Te'o to be honored as a Heisman finalist, finishing third in the voting behind Fernando Mendoza of Indiana and Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt.

Why it matters

Love's feat is made even more commendable considering he is only the third Notre Dame player to be named a Heisman finalist in the 21st century. His brilliant 2025 campaign highlighted his big-play ability, with highlights like a spin move touchdown against Pitt's top-ranked run defense.

The details

Apart from breaking the single-season touchdown record, Love's third-place Heisman finish can largely be attributed to his big-play ability. From his one-handed catch versus A&M to his 94-yard touchdown against Boston College, Love's catalog of explosive plays is the stuff of legend. His answer when asked about his 'Heisman moment' was the spin move touchdown versus Pitt to start the game.

  • In 2025, Love recorded a record-breaking 21 total touchdowns for Notre Dame.
  • Love became the first Golden Domer since Manti Te'o to be honored as a Heisman finalist in 2025.
  • Love finished third in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting behind Fernando Mendoza of Indiana and Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt.

The players

Jeremiyah Love

A junior running back at the University of Notre Dame who had a record-breaking 2025 season, finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Fernando Mendoza

The Indiana University player who won the 2025 Heisman Trophy.

Diego Pavia

The Vanderbilt University player who finished second in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting.

Manti Te'o

A former Notre Dame player who was the last Golden Domer to be named a Heisman finalist before Jeremiyah Love in 2025.

Jason Love

Jeremiyah Love's father, who has been a key source of confidence and hype for the Notre Dame running back.

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What they’re saying

“To be able to be spoken about like some Notre Dame legends have, it's a great honor, and I hope I continue to set a great standard for players that come to this university in the future.”

— Jeremiyah Love (nd.edu)

“My dad gives me my confidence before every game. We have a special moment before every game. He just makes sure I'm in my right mind space, and without that, I feel like I wouldn't be able to go out there and do the things that I do because he instills that confidence within me.”

— Jeremiyah Love (nd.edu)

“Back in the day, my dad would show me Barry Sanders highlights. While I wasn't alive to watch him, I watched some of his highlights growing up.”

— Jeremiyah Love (nd.edu)

What’s next

With a first-round grade to his name, Jeremiyah Love will undoubtedly add immense value to whatever NFL team ends up drafting him. Many insiders are projecting him to land within the top 10 picks.

The takeaway

Jeremiyah Love's brilliant 2025 campaign at Notre Dame, which included a record-breaking 21 total touchdowns and a third-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting, cemented his status as one of the most electrifying college football players of his generation.