CBS Sports Named Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love The Top Underdog To Win The Heisman Trophy

Notre Dame has had seven former players win the Heisman Trophy, with the most recent winner being Tim Brown in 1987. They have had some candidates in the past who have been in the discussion with linebacker Manti Te'o earning a trip to New York in 2012 and running back Josh Adams surging his way into the Heisman conversation mid way through 2017 with his multiple rushing performances over 200 yards. 

Most Heisman candidates from Notre Dame haven't been quarterbacks, which is adds to the difficulty of bringing the trophy back to South Bend. Since 2000, only five non-quarterback players have won the Heisman Trophy, with the most recent being this past season in Colorado standout wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter. 

This year, the Irish enter the season with a candidate seriously in the discussion for the first time in a long time. Running back Jeremiyah Love has gained a lot of well-deserved attention this offseason; he's considered the No. 1 returning running back in the country and CBS Sports considers him their top underdog to win the Heisman Trophy this season. 

"The straw who stirs the drink for the Fighting Irish on offense, Love averaged 6.9 yards per carry last season and scored a touchdown in 13 consecutive games at one point. He'll have an increased role this fall given run-heavy quarterback Riley Leonard's exit and Notre Dame going with a first-year starter at the position. Love had four carries stretching 60 or more yards as a sophomore, including his 98-yard burst against Indiana in the playoff. Only three running backs have won the Heisman since 2000 and Notre Dame's last winner of the bronze statue was Tim Brown in 1987." - Brad Crawford, CBS Sports

Its interesting to think that someone who is considered the No. 1 returning running back in college football in considered a long shot to win the Heisman, especially when you consider the season Love put together his first year as a starter. He rushed for 1,125 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, tallied 237 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. 

Depending on which service you look at, Love ranks outside of the top 15 chances of winning the Heisman trophy with players like Miami quarterback Carson Beck (+3000) and Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (+3500) ahead of him in the preseason projections. According to Draft Kings, Love has the same odds of winning the Heisman (+4000) as CJ Carr, Austin Simmons from Ole Miss and Ty Simpson from Alabama. 

Love's production is likely to increase this season with the absence of quarterback Riley Leonard who accounted for 906 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2024. With the Irish breaking in a new starting quarterback this fall, Love will need to play and live up to expectations, especially in the first quarter of their schedule. If he puts together the performance he's capable of, it's not a long shot for him to get the invitation to New York at the end of the season.