Notre Dame’s star running back Jeremiyah Love was absolutely dominant against Syracuse on Senior Day, a game which could have been his last in Blue and Gold.
It was a memorable one, as he scored three touchdown on 8 touches, going for 171 rushing yards. It was the seventh time this season that Love has scored multiple touchdowns, and found his way into the records books.
It’s been a banner season for the junior, one that should see him garner plenty of postseason award recognition. Let’s look at how Love stacks up statistically to his other Heisman Trophy challengers.
Total touchdowns vs. Passing touchdowns
Love’s total touchdown ranking: No. 2 with 20
Just two behind the nation’s leader, Love could make up ground against Stanford this weekend. However, it doesn’t look like he’s going up against North Texas’ Caleb Hawkins, it’s more about the quarterbacks. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson both have 30 passing touchdowns leading the nation while another candidate in Ohio State’s Julian Sayin has 27.
They’re three of the nation’s leaders, but let’s break this down a bit deeper. Mendoza has 278 attempts, resulting in 10.7% of his touches resulting in touchdowns, Sayin with 8.3% while Love is just behind them with 8% with Robertson at the bottom with 6.5%.
Rushing yards vs. Passing yards
Love’s rushing yards ranking: No. 3 with 1,306-yards
Again, the backs ahead of him aren’t really a factor in the race, so let’s again look at where some of the top quarterbacks are. Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson is the first candidate at No. 4 with 3,372, and another potential winner in Alabama’s Ty Simpson as No. 13 with 2,934. Sayin at No. 16 with 2,832 and Mendoza at No. 31 with 2,641.
Same drill as above, starting with Love this time averaging 7.1 yards-per-attempt. Mendoza is at the top of the quarterback group with 9.5 and Sayin right behind him at 9.4, then Simpson at 8.3 rounds out the top Heisman contenders. Interestingly enough, Robertson is all the way down at No. 67 despite nearly leading the country in passing yards.
Jeremiyah Love over any quarterback?
For as much as we’d all like to see Love winning the Heisman, you have to believe that the front runners are Mendoza and Sayin. They’re on a collision course to face off against each other in the Big Ten Championship Game, and it could be a de facto “Heisman” game.
One of the reasons why I’d rather see awards being given out after bowl season, is due to games still having to be played, and this is another reason why. Love shouldn’t get punished for not playing another game, and having one lasting impression on the voters during the final weekend of the regular season.
I’d love to be wrong, but I don’t think Love wins the Heisman enough though he deserves it. The award has become one for quarterbacks, and I still believe that Love will win the Doak Walker Award and has a great chance at the Maxwell Award as well.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Jeremiyah Love & the Heisman Trophy: His stats vs. top competitors
Reporting by Michael Chen , Fighting Irish Wire / Fighting Irish Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
