The Athletic is providing live coverage of the highly anticipated Army-Navy game taking place in Baltimore.
In New York, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love addressed the media, shedding light on the school’s decision not to participate in a bowl game this season, which he characterized as a “team decision.” The Fighting Irish’s season concluded with a 10-2 record and a ten-game winning streak, but their absence from the College Football Playoff (CFP) left them on the sidelines during postseason play.
Love remarked that the players wanted to put forth their best representation of their 2025 football squad, leading to the decision to skip the bowl game. He emphasized, “We felt like we had a very special group, and at the end of the season, we weren’t going to have the same team that we did going into the bowl game.” The team believed that their performance in the playoffs needed to reflect the entire season accurately.
Notre Dame’s exclusion from the CFP came after being ranked high throughout the selection committee’s deliberations, ultimately placing them just outside the final rankings. Athletic director Pete Bevacqua openly criticized the selection process and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for lobbying against Notre Dame while supporting the Miami team, which had earlier defeated the Irish.
Initially feeling sadness about their CFP omission, Love later reflected, “Once some time passed, we realized that we were only in that position because we put ourselves in that position.” He recalled how the team faced challenges early in the season, starting with two close losses to Miami and No. 7 Texas A&M by a combined four points.
With 1,372 rushing yards this season, Love is now in contention for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, which has not seen a running back win since Derrick Henry in 2015. Other finalists include Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, with Mendoza and Sayin leading their teams into the Playoff as first and second seeds.
Despite the decision not to compete in a bowl game, Love highlighted a charity event the team hosted to conclude their season proudly. He acknowledged the need for the team to reflect on its performance and the opportunities missed, stating, “We’re not by any means disappointed, and we’re proud of the way we play. We’re proud of the way we ended the season. It just was disappointing that we didn’t get into the playoffs.”
This reflection underscores the resilience and determination of Notre Dame’s players, focusing on their accomplishments while looking ahead to future seasons.