Overview
- Love became Notre Dame’s first Doak Walker Award winner and finished third in Heisman voting after posting 1,372 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns.
- Following their playoff omission, Notre Dame declined bowl participation; Love said the team "put ourselves in that position" and cited a desire to represent the 2025 group accurately.
- Love set school marks, including the single‑season total touchdown record (21), and delivered signature performances such as 228 rushing yards against USC.
- Freeman said on ESPN he wants to persuade Love to return, while Newsweek and CBS Sports report NFL interest in the coach; Love publicly endorsed Freeman’s ability to succeed at any level as Notre Dame’s AD signaled strong retention efforts.
- CBS Sports, citing Yahoo Sports, reported some conferences may pull future games after learning of an MOA granting Notre Dame a 2026 playoff berth if ranked top 12, underscoring tensions that followed the CFP snub.