Love: ADs' threat to avoid Notre Dame is because 'they're scared to play us'

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has a simple reason why opposing athletic directors may want to freeze out the Irish from upcoming schedules.

"They're scared to play us. They don't want to play Notre Dame because we're Notre Dame," Love said Friday when asked about the threat of avoiding Notre Dame in the future, according to Mike Berardino of NDInsider.com.

Notre Dame stole headlines last week by declining to play a bowl game after the College Football Playoff committee moved the Miami Hurricanes into the 12-team field at the Irish's expense.

Athletic director Pete Bevacqua recently revealed that the Irish signed a memorandum of understanding with the CFP that guarantees the program a spot in the 12-team playoff field if it's ranked in the top 12 in 2026. As a result of that agreement, athletic directors in other conferences have threatened to freeze Notre Dame out of future schedules, according to Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken.

"You're leaving us out of your schedule; it's not a good look. Why not play us? That's how I think about it," Love added.

The star tailback spoke Friday before claiming the Doak Walker Award as the nation's best running back. Love, who's expected to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, could crown his spectacular junior season at Notre Dame on Saturday in New York City, where he'll be in attendance as one of the four finalists for the 2025 Heisman Trophy.