"I feel like Ohio State is better than Texas": Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love raises eyebrows with bold statement before Cotton Bowl

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish just secured their first national championship game appearance last night after a close win over Penn State at the Orange Bowl. Yet running back Jeremiyah Love was already calling for a new challenge after the game.

Love, who ran for 45 yards in 11 carries and a hard-earned touchdown against the Nittany Lions, didn’t mince words about the other College Football Playoff semifinal, calling for what he views as the better team to win and set a date with Irish in the championship game.

“I want to play the best team,” Love said to On3’s Andy Staples. “I feel like Ohio State is better than Texas, I want to play the best and win.”

The Ohio State Buckeyes will be facing off against the Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl game in the other College Football Playoff semifinal. The Buckeyes are favored to win despite the game being played at Arlington, close to the Longhorns' campus.

The Fighting Irish beat Penn State in a hard-fought game at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Notre Dame was trailing with under five minutes left to play, but after a 54-yard touchdown pass from Riley Leonard to Jaden Greathouse tied the score, Christian Grey intercepted Drew Allar to set up Mitch Jeter’s game-winning field goal.

The Fighting Irish are looking for their first title since 1988, when Lou Holtz was still coaching the team. While they played Alabama for the national title after the 2012 season, the Crimson Tide arrived as a heavy favorite and had little trouble disposing of the Irish 42-14.

Notre Dame will now face the winner of the Cotton in the College Football Playoff Championship Bowl in Atlanta on Jan. 20.

What happened the last time Notre Dame faced Ohio State?

Kyle McCord led Ohio State to a victory over Notre Dame in 2023. - Source: Imagn

The last time Notre Dame faced off against Ohio State the Buckeyes came away with a 17-14 win in South Bend. In that game, then Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord led Ohio State on a last-minute drive capped by Chip Trayanum’s one-yard touchdown plunge with one second left.

Love ran eight times for 57 yards in that game, as he was still behind Audric Estime in the depth chart.

While the game was only played a season ago, both schools have undergone important personnel changes, starting with the quarterback position.

The Irish are already set for a revenge game at the biggest stage. Will the Buckeyes make it? Jeremiyah Love seems to think it will happen if the best team wins on Friday.