Notre Dame Star Jeremiyah Love Blasts USC Ahead of NFL Draft

Former Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is just three weeks away from hearing his name called towards the start of the NFL draft.

The electric playmaker spent just three years at Notre Dame but leaves with as many highlight plays as anyone to ever wear the blue and gold.

There weren't many times Love didn't look the part of an All-American on the field, but perhaps he saved his best for games against Notre Dame's biggest rival, USC.

Jeremiyah Love's Stats vs. USC Trojans

Love played three games against USC all-time, putting up huge numbers in two of them.

The first came in 2023 when the true freshman saw limited time in a mop-up duty. He had three carries for six yards in the 48-20 Notre Dame victory, and that'd be the last time USC slowed Love.

2024 saw Notre Dame clinch a College Football Playoff appearance with a win at USC, guiding largely by Love. The star back had 99 yards rushing on 13 carries (7.6 yards per attempt) and a touchdown while hauling in 38 receiving yards. The numbers would have been higher but Love left that game early with a knee injury as the Irish cruised to a 49-35 win.

2025 was the peak of Love against USC, as he set the all-time record for rushing yards in a home game by a Notre Dame running back. The Heisman Trophy finalist went for 224 yards on 24 carries (9.5 per attempt) and one touchdown while hauling in 37 receiving yards along the way.

With that performance in mind, and the fact that Notre Dame won seven of the last eight contests against the Trojans, it's probably easy to realize how Love views USC for ending the rivalry.

Jeremiyah Love Rips USC for Ditching Notre Dame Rivalry

Love joined JD Pickell of On3 earlier this week and discussed everything from his recruitment to Notre Dame to the difficulty of class and his hurdling ability. However, he also chimed in about the end of the historic Notre Dame vs. USC rivalry.

"I think they're done, I think they're done" said Love, "I think they got their butt kicked, they got their last whooping, and I think they want to be done."

"They're done. I don't think they want no more smoke, especially if I was back. I don't think they want no more because it doesn't look too good for them for the past couple of years."

Credit to Love for saying what anyone with even the least bit of common sense regarding college football has long known.

As for who Notre Dame should try and replace USC with on the schedule, Love had an old rival of the Fighting Irish.

"Honestly, I say, bring back the Michigan rivalry," added Love, "They bring that back, that'll be great, good to play against somebody in the Big (Ten) and yeah, I fee like that. That rivalry would be very, very cool for Notre Dame. Just bring it back."

Regarding USC, I think Love is spot on. As long as Lincoln Riley is the head coach there, Notre Dame won't be back on the schedule.

With Michigan, I can only hope those talks have been had in the Notre Dame athletic offices as that is a game that should be played every season.