SOUTH BEND —ESPN’s Joe Tessitore sounds convinced about Jeremiyah Love’s Heisman Trophy qualifications, even if the betting odds still have him as a longshot.
After calling a 37-15 road win for Notre Dame football over then-ranked Pittsburgh last Saturday, Nov. 15, the veteran play-by-play man went on television and raved about the Irish and their junior running back.
“They have the best player in college football,” said Tessitore, whose son John was a kicking specialist at Boston College from 2018-21. “I’m going to say that right now. (Love) is the most versatile player in college football. Every down and distance, everything you need, the game-breaking plays, the short-yardage, gritty plays.”
Pitt defenders are still regaining their equilibrium after whiffing on Love’s spin move during a 56-yard touchdown run that opened the scoring.
Love finished with 147 rushing yards on 23 carries, his fifth time going over the century mark this season.
With two regular-season games remaining, Love has 1,409 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns. Both figures rank third at the FBS level, but the Irish finish with a pair of struggling opponents in Syracuse (3-7) and Stanford (3-7).
Love’s best odds as of Friday appear to be +2500 (25/1) at DraftKings.com. That places him behind four quarterbacks: Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (+105), Ohio State’s Julian Sayin (+175), Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed (+550) and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia (+1600).
Irish quarterback CJ Carr is tied for 11th at +30000 (300/1).
Love finished a distant third to Mendoza and Sayin in this week’s straw poll by The Athletic of college football writers and editors.
Derrick Henry of Alabama was the last running back to win the Heisman in 2015. Wide receiver and kick returner Tim Brown (1987) was the last Notre Dame player to win the Heisman.
Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock helped quarterback Jayden Daniels win the award in 2023 when both were at LSU.
Heisman ballots are distributed on Dec. 1 with votes due by Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. ET. The Heisman ceremony is Dec. 13 in New York City.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
