The Notre Dame Fighting Irish punched their ticket to the National Championship game with a win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl – their College Football Playoff semifinal matchup.
Afterward, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love wasn't shy about who he hopes to face in the title game, even though the reason might surprise you.
“We want to play Ohio State. We lost to them last year in a game we should have won," Love said. "I feel like Ohio State is better than Texas. I want to play the best and win.”
Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love after beating Penn State:
— On3 (@On3sports) January 10, 2025
“We want to play Ohio State. We lost to them last year in a game we should have won... I feel like Ohio State is better than Texas. I want to play the best and win.”
(via @Andy_Staples)https://t.co/VnyjqnnAlJ pic.twitter.com/tdW24rFdwc
In other words, Love doesn't think the Texas Longhorns are all that great. He believes the Ohio State Buckeyes are by far and away the better team and he wants, to truly capture the national title, to play the best team out there.
To put it into context, the Horns defeated the Michigan Wolverines earlier in the regular season, a Michigan team that went on to beat Ohio State in their final regular-season game of the year. Yet, with Ohio State's dramatic CFP wins over the Tennessee Volunteers and the Oregon Ducks, Notre Dame is looking to the Buckeyes as the toughest remaining team.
The Horns lost to Georgia twice before the Playoffs – during the regular season at home and in the SEC Championship game. Those same Georgia Bulldogs were drubbed by the Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals when Notre Dame defeated UGA 23-10.
In Notre Dame's wins throughout the postseason, Love has been slightly hampered with an injured knee. However, he has still been able to contribute to the Fighting Irish's offensive drives.
Over their first three Playoff games, Love contributed 172 rushing yards for 2 touchdowns alongside 26 receiving yards, despite suffering flu-like symptoms in the first-round matchup against Indiana and dealing with his unspecified knee injury.
So, while Love might want to play the Buckeyes, it isn't up to him. The No. 5 Texas Longhorns and the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.