Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman expects running back Jeremiyah Love to play in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal game and the Fighting Irish ground game to be at full strength against sixth-seeded Penn State.

Since Notre Dame's season finale win in Los Angeles against USC on November 30, star running back Jeremiyah Love hasn't been quite right. He still dazzled with a 98-yard touchdown run in the first round of the College Football Playoff game against Indiana, while also battling a cold, but it was clear to see he was still not feeling quite right.

While Notre Dame football star running back Jeremiyah Love deemed himself healthy enough to play against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the College Football Playoff semifinals, that might not actually be the case.

Notre Dame football is itching for its first national title victory since 1988. The Fighting Irish have trusted running back Jeremiyah Love to help attempt to end the championship drought. Now, Penn State stands in the way in the College Football Playoffs at the Orange Bowl.

Notre Dame star running back Jeremiyah Love has dealt with a variety of ailments over the last few weeks, yet has continued to chug along as one of the best running backs in college football. It began with a knee injury suffered in the regular season finale against USC out in Los Angeles that prevented him from finishing the game against the Trojans and has since escalated with him dealing with flu-like symptoms in the week leading up to and during the first round of the College Football Playoff matchup against Indiana in South Bend.

While Notre Dame football advanced to the College Football Playoff semi finals, with a 23-10 win over the Georgia Bulldogs, many are wondering what the status of star running back Jeremiyah Love will be.

Love signed with Notre Dame as a four-star recruit out of Christian Brothers High School (St. Louis) in the class of 2023, per 247 Sports. During Love's freshman year in 2023, he served as Audric Estime's backup. He finished last year with 385 rushing yards and scored two total touchdowns.

The Fighting Irish running back had previously deemed himself healthy enough to play against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the CFP semifinals - but that might not quite be the case

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