Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price’s replacements respond to halftime challenge after ugly start

The Notre Dame football program started the 2026 season off on a high note. Notre Dame demolished Wisconsin 41-13 in a game of two completely different halves. The Fighting Irish definitively put the game away in the second half thanks to their new duo of running backs.

Notre Dame proved that they don’t need Jeremiyah Love or Jadarian Price to have an effective running game. But the coaching staff needed to challenge their young duo of Aneyas Williams and Nolan James Jr. at halftime.

“At halftime, the coaches challenged Williams and James, who took over the primary ball-carrying duties after the departures of NFL first-round draft picks Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, to attack the holes in Wisconsin’s defense,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg wrote on Sunday night. “Williams responded with 72 of his 90 rushing yards in the second half and two touchdowns, and James caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Carr.”

Notre Dame’s offense only managed 29 rushing yards and a single offensive touchdown in the first half. But everything started to click for the offensive in the second half. The defense even got involved with a pick-six during the third quarter.

Head coach Marcus Freeman gave his new running back tandem a shout out after the game.

“They showed to be the backs that we expected,” Freeman said. “I don’t expect to replace J-Love and JD with just one guy or two guys. It’s going to be a committee. It’s going to be keeping guys fresh and continue to let them run and continue to let them try to wear down the defense.”

Notre Dame fans can still catch glimpses of Love and Price in the NFL. In fact, Price will suit up for the Seahawks in just a few days.

But more importantly, the Fighting Irish seem to have found their next generation of running backs. That is some great news to receive at the beginning of the season.

Next up for Notre Dame is a home game against Rice on September 12th at 3:30PM ET.

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