Notre Dame sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love turned on the jets to start the expanded College Football Playoff.
Love ripped off an epic 98-yard rushing touchdown for the first score of Friday night’s first-round matchup against in-state rival Indiana after the teams traded interceptions in the opening minutes.
The first-quarter carry, which tied a school record, came just after Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw a pick in the red zone to Xavier Watts, giving Notre Dame possession at their own 2-yard line.
Love, who is in his second season with the Fighting Irish, came into the game with a team-leading 949 rushing yards — on 7.1 yards per carry — and 15 rushing TDs before taking off the longest score of his college career.
The touchdown score was a thrilling way to kick off the brand new College Football Playoff format, which saw an increase from four to 12 teams this season.
JEREMIYAH LOVE IS LONG GONE HOLY SMOKES pic.twitter.com/kKEAm1JrMI
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 21, 2024
This is the first matchup between the two schools since 1991, where the Fighting Irish won in a blowout.
Indiana has not beaten Notre Dame in nearly 75 years, with their last win coming in 1950.
Following a 3-9 record last year, Indiana clinched a playoff berth for the first time in program history under new head coach Curt Cignetti.
But Love’s long score put the Hoosiers in an early hole in South Bend.
