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Jeremiyah Love comments on his health ahead of National Championship game
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Jeremiyah Love has done a lot this season and dealt with a lot.
But now, with the National Championship game just 2 days away and Notre Dame’s first championship in 36 years hanging in the balance, the star running back is thankful he’s in a position to help finish the job. Love spoke candidly and confidently during Saturday’s Media Day session in Atlanta, where the Fighting Irish will face Ohio State in the first title game under the 12-team College Football Playoff format.
Love has rushed for 1,122 yards this season with 17 touchdowns despite a nagging knee injury that’s hampered the sophomore from St. Louis at different points. But he says he’s healthy now and ready to help Notre Dame make history on Monday night.
“I’m good, I’m 100%,” he said, per On3’s Pete Nakos. “I’m ready to go. It’s been a challenge. But if it ain’t hard, it ain’t good. I’ve been just going along with the ride. I feel like God’s got me. I got my complete trust in this team.”
That’s in keeping with what his head coach, Marcus Freeman, has said in the lead-up to the game. Last Sunday, Freeman told reporters that Love would be “full go” for the title fight.
Love’s injury as well as the Georgia and Penn State defenses have combined to bottle up Love in the Irish’s past 2 Playoff games. After Love roared out of the gates a month ago with a 98-yard touchdown run in the first-round win over Indiana, he has combined for just 65 yards on 17 carries in the quarterfinal and semifinal victories.
Now, Love believes he can regain his form at the most important time.
Notre Dame is an 8.5-point dog in the game, via ESPN Bet. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
