Jeremiyah Love Honored for Heart and Hustle with Disney Spirit Award

Recognition for character that changed a season

Notre Dame’s quarterback Jeremiyah Love has been named the 2025 recipient of the Disney Spirit Award, a national honor given to a college football player who shows exceptional leadership, courage and commitment off the field as much as on it. The award is meant to celebrate the kind of steady presence that lifts a locker room and reaches beyond campus into the wider community.

The announcement landed as a warm moment for a program that leaned on Love during a season that tested players and coaches alike. For teammates and fans, the award is less about one spectacular play and more about the quiet reliability he brought — the steady hand when things got messy and the visible care he showed for people around him.

From clutch moments to steady leadership

Love’s role this season was a mix of on-field responsibility and off-field example-setting. He finished the year as a clear leader of Notre Dame’s offense, taking snaps in pressure situations and helping the team through stretches of adversity. When injuries and roster changes forced the team to adapt, Love’s calm and focus became a recurring theme in game recaps and locker-room conversations.

Beyond the plays, coaches pointed to his work ethic and how younger players responded to him. He was often seen staying after practice to help teammates, running extra reps with backups, and breaking down game film with position groups. Those small acts matter in college football, where the daily grind builds the culture that shows up on Saturdays.

That mix — the ability to make plays when needed and to build trust day after day — is the kind of thing the Disney Spirit Award prizes. It’s not about headlines, but about the kind of influence that keeps a team together through a long season.

How people close to the team reacted

Reaction on campus was immediate and warm. Coaches praised Love’s maturity, pointing to his willingness to put the team first. Teammates celebrated his steady presence, saying the award simply put into a national spotlight what they had experienced all season.

Family and friends described the honor as fitting. For many in South Bend, the announcement felt like recognition not just of an athlete but of a young man who made time for the community, who visited youth programs and who treated fans with patience and respect.

Why this award matters and where it came from

The Disney Spirit Award is designed to highlight character. Unlike awards that reward statistics or highlight-reel plays, this one asks voters to look at who a player is when cameras aren’t rolling. Winners are typically players who combine competitive performance with notable acts of leadership or service.

Past recipients have come from a range of schools and positions, and the honor tends to elevate players who are already leaders on their teams. For Love, the award reinforces a narrative that he was as important to Notre Dame’s identity this season as any single score or yard gained.

What this means for the Notre Dame community

For young fans and local programs, the recognition gives a familiar face to emulate. Love’s visibility can help draw attention to causes he supported during the year and inspire kids who saw him at clinics, school visits or community events. For teammates and recruits, it’s a reminder that this program values players who lead with character.

The award also gives the university a positive moment in the national conversation — a reminder that college football stories aren’t only about wins and losses but about people who use the platform well.

Looking ahead: celebrations and next steps

Love will be honored at an upcoming ceremony held by the award’s organizers. Notre Dame officials said they will share more details about the celebration and related events as plans are finalized. Expect campus gatherings, photo opportunities and an amplification of the community work that helped earn him the honor.

For now, the spotlight is on a player whose steady presence mattered when it counted most — and on a program getting a welcome reminder that character can be its own kind of victory.

Sources

• prnewswire.com