Latest news with #NFFCollegeFootballHallofFame
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis nominated for prestigious honor
Ohio State linebackers coach James Laurinaitis nominated for prestigious honor Only a handful of elites in their craft can say they are a part of a Hall of Fame. That's what former Ohio State linebacker and current assistant coach James Laurinaitis is hoping for, and for good reason. The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot was released this week, and Laurinaitis has his name appearing on it yet again. He's no stranger to having his name penciled in as a potential, this being his seventh consecutive year, but he has yet to make the cut. The numbers and accolades are definitely there. During his time at Ohio State from 2005 to 2008, he tallied over 115 tackles three straight years, had 13 sacks, and nine interceptions. He was so good in Columbus that he was a three-time First-team All-Big Ten performer, was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year twice, Jack Lambert recipient twice, was a unanimous All-American in 2007, three time consensus All-American, and won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Lott IMPACT Trophy, and Butkus Award during his career in college. Whew. There aren't many more accomplished linebackers in college football history, so it's a wonder why his name has not made it through the voting process yet. Maybe this is the year. If so, he'll have to be one of the players left standing between other candidates, Mark Ingram II, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Aaron Donald, Kellen Moore, and another 73 players. Voting ends on July 1, so we should get some news on Laurinaitis' fate before the start of the college football season. We say it's high time the "Little Animal" becomes big-time in the College Football Hall of Fame. If he does get the nod, Laurinaitis will join 32 other Buckeyes, including three other linebackers.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Nebraska football great eligible for Hall of Fame ballot
Nebraska football great eligible for Hall of Fame ballot The National Football Foundation has announced the names under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, and a Nebraska football great has qualified for the ballot. Ndamukong Suh played at Nebraska from 2005 to 2009. His senior season, in 2009, is one of the legendary seasons in college football. During that year, Suh played in 14 games and recorded 85 tackles, 20.5 for loss, and 12.0 sacks. He was a finalist for the 2009 Heisman trophy and was the first defensive player named the Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Here is how the College Football Hall of Fame described his Husker "2009 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland trophies…2009 AP College Player of the Year became the first defensive lineman in 15 seasons to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy (4th in 2009)…2009 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year tied the Nebraska record for single-game TFL (7 vs. Texas) in the 2009 Big 12 title game." Suh was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL draft. He's also played for Miami, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia. The 2026 Hall of Fame ballot includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks. The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future. The class will be officially inducted in Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
College football alters Hall of Fame criteria, opens Kirk Ferentz door
College football alters Hall of Fame criteria, opens Kirk Ferentz door The National Football Foundation, in consultation with the American Football Coaches Association, NFF Honors Court, and NFF Awards Committee, has adjusted the eligibility criteria for coaches entering the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. Beginning with the Class of 2027,… — National Football Foundation (@NFFNetwork) May 29, 2025 The National Football Foundation announced an adjustment to its NFF College Football Hall of Fame criteria on Thursday. The NFF College Football Hall of Fame lowered its minimum career winning percentage threshold for coaching eligibility from .600 to .595. This change will go into effect beginning with the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot. It's a notable development in Iowa City, too. Longtime Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has sat just below the .600 minimum career winning percentage threshold for some time. After last season's 8-5 (6-3 Big Ten) finish, Ferentz's coaching mark at Iowa across 26 seasons sits at 204-124 (128-88 Big Ten). That's a .622 winning percentage with the Hawkeyes. There's just one problem. Ferentz's three-year mark in his first head coaching stint at Maine was 12-21 from 1990-92. Those three seasons bring Ferentz's overall collegiate head coaching record to 216-145. Or, a .598 winning percentage. With this adjustment, Ferentz would now be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame upon retirement. It's exciting news for the all-time winningest Hawkeye that his runway to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame has been cleared for takeoff. The adjustment also presents some interesting questions for Iowa, too. Does this alter Ferentz's retirement timeline in any way, shape or form? With the NFF College Football Hall of Fame roadblock now cleared, could Ferentz retire after the 2025 season? An Iowa finish of 7-6 or better in the 2025 season would keep Ferentz above the new minimum career winning percentage threshold of .595 for coaching eligibility. If Iowa rips off a particularly successful 2025 season or pair of seasons in 2025 and 2026, does that free Ferentz up to coach out the remainder of his contract through the 2029 season without the looming fear of dipping below that Hall of Fame threshold? It's interesting to consider. All of the other eligibility requirements remain unchanged. To be considered for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, coaches must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 10 seasons and must have coached at least 100 games. Coaches become eligible for consideration three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement if they are at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible upon reaching the age of 75. Beyond Ferentz, late Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is now eligible for the Hall of Fame. Former Oklahoma State, LSU and Kansas head coach Les Miles and former Pitt, Texas A&M and Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill are now eligible as well. "It's the only sane thing to do," Leach's mentor, Hal Mumme, told ESPN. "Why is 60% the magic number? I mean, not everybody gets to coach at Notre Dame or Texas or something. Throw the rule out and vote people in on merit." Among other active head coaches, West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez owns a .596 winning percentage. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
