Why Jeremiyah Love almost never went to Notre Dame

Why Jeremiyah Love almost never went to Notre Dame originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jeremiyah Love’s path to stardom at Notre Dame nearly took a sharp detour.

The former five-star running back revealed this week on “The Rich Eisen Show” that he was “very, very close” to flipping his commitment to Michigan on National Signing Day in 2023.

Love was one of the nation’s top backs in the 2022 recruiting cycle and had been committed to Notre Dame but felt a strong pull toward Michigan late in the process. The Wolverines hosted him for two visits, and the opportunity to join Fredrick Moore made the idea even more appealing.

“I was literally this close to going to Michigan,” Love said. “But I was like, ‘I’m committed to Notre Dame. I’m just going to stick with them.’”

Ultimately, a lack of communication from the Wolverines staff helped seal his decision. Love said he tried to build stronger connections in Ann Arbor but never established consistent contact down the stretch.

“That’s probably why I didn’t go,” Love said. “Nobody contacted me.”

However, one castaway for a program became a star for another. Love honored his pledge to coach Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame and it paid dividends.

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After backing up Audric Estime as a freshman, Love erupted in 2024 with 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, highlighted by a 98-yard score in the College Football Playoff. He followed with 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist and solidifying himself as a top prospect ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine

Love now waits to see where he'll land at the next step of his career. 

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