Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love is slated to start Thursday against sixth-seeded Penn State, so the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish and their trademark running game will be at — or near — full in the first College Football Playoff semifinal. .
Love also injured his right knee late in the third quarter of Notre Dame’s 23-10 Sugar Bowl victory over second-seeded Georgia. He went into the medical tent twice before returning to the sideline with a strong knee brace.
But when coach Marcus Freeman spoke to reporters on Saturday, Love did not make the team’s injury report.
“The only injury update for this game is that Cooper Flanagan will be out for the College Football Playoff with a foot injury,” Freeman said, referring to his tight end. “We’ll miss Coop and love him, but other than that, everybody was clean. Clean game with injuries.”
That means Love and quarterback Riley Leonard are expected to continue to lead the ground game while backup running backs Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams provide reinforcements as the Irish (13-1, No. 3 CFP) chasing the appearance of their first national game from the end. for the 2012 season.
Love did not speak to reporters Saturday and is not scheduled to speak to the media before facing the Big Ten runner-up Nittany Lions (13-2, No. 5). Price is expected to speak later on Saturday.
How serious is Love in Notre Dame’s corner?
He leads the Irish with 1,076 yards and 16 touchdown runs, averages 7.3 yards per carry and has set a school record for 13th consecutive game. The series ended against Georgia.
Love also set the tone in Notre Dame’s first-round win over 10th-seeded Indiana when he ran 98 yards for the first score. It was the longest game in playoff history and came on a day when Love was battling the flu and a sore knee he injured in the team’s regular-season finale at USC.
But his stats and on-field performance don’t provide a complete accounting of Love’s impact.
He has sacked 10 quarterbacks this season, including an effort against the Hoosiers where he aggravated his knee injury, and his ability to play well despite injury or illness has given the Irish a resilience that is felt throughout the locker room. And his strength and ability to break up make Leonard a very dangerous option on the floor.
The result: Notre Dame needed just 90 yards passing to beat the SEC champion Bulldogs in New Orleans.
So having Love on the field seems necessary if the Irish are going to end their 36-year national championship drought – the longest gap between title-winning seasons since the Irish captured their first in 1924.
But even if Love isn’t at full strength, the Irish have other options.
Georgia Bulldogs: What went wrong in the Sugar Bowl vs. Notre Dame?
Leonard already holds the school single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (15) and needs 169 yards rushing to record his first 1,000-yard season. Price can be dangerous and a workhorse and Williams, a freshman, has worked his way into more action by cutting half of his 32 tackles over the past four games.
“He came here with a lot of talent, but he had to earn trust,” said Freeman, referring to Williams. “It’s all him [has] what is done is to continue to gain more confidence throughout the season. You can put him in there at any time – run play, pass play, take the ball out of his hands, throw the ball to him, you’re going to protect him. He is a strong person and I love him.”
This combination has caused Notre Dame’s opponents a major upset during a 12-game winning streak and has already produced the first 13-win season in school history.
Now, Penn State faces another concern — the health of All-American defensive end Abdul Carter. He left the 31-14 Fiesta Bowl victory over third-seeded Boise State with a left arm injury. Coach James Franklin indicated Saturday that Carter can play, although he may be limited.
“He’s doing great — his attitude is good, his mindset has been really good,” Franklin said. “Actually it will depend on how he feels and how much he practices. I don’t think there is anything stopping him from playing at the moment; that’s how he can play.”
It is reported by the Associated Press.
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