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NBC Sports
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
Heisman winners Ingram, Newton, Griffin are among players on College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Heisman Trophy winners Mark Ingram, Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III and former AP National Player of the Year Ndamukong Suh are on the ballot for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class. The National Football Foundation released the ballot Monday for the class that will be announced in January. It includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from lower levels. Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman winner in 2009 after running for 1,658 yards and 20 touchdowns. Newton in 2010 was just the third player in FBS history with 20 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns. Griffin in 2011 led the nation in points responsible for and ranked second in total offense. Suh was a force for Nebraska in 2009 and became the first defensive lineman in 15 seasons to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He finished fourth in voting but was honored as the nation's top player by The Associated Press. Among other players on the ballot are Iowa's Brad Banks, Colorado's Eric Bieniemy, Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant, Penn State's Ki-Jana Carter, Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald, Syracuse's Marvin Harrison, Oklahoma's Josh Heupel, Ohio State's James Laurinaitis, Washington State's Ryan Leaf, California's Marshawn Lynch, Illinois' Simeon Rice and Florida State's Peter Warrick. Among coaches on the ballot are Larry Coker, Gary Patterson and Chris Petersen. Coker led the Canes to consecutive national championship games and won the 2002 Rose Bowl to become the first rookie head coach to lead his team to a title since 1948. Patterson is TCU's all-time wins leader who led the Horned Frogs to six AP top 10 final rankings. Petersen is Boise State's all-time wins leader who led the Broncos to two undefeated seasons and led Washington to the 2016 College Football Playoff. The NFF also announced an adjustment to the eligibility criteria for coaches to be considered for induction. The minimum career winning percentage required for coaching eligibility will go from .600 to .595 beginning in 2027. The change would make Mike Leach eligible. Leach, who died in 2022, had a .596 winning percentage with a 158-107 record over 21 seasons at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. Leach was known for his innovative wide-open offenses and his knack for pulling upsets. He won 18 games against Top 25 opponents when his team was unranked.
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.
Miami Herald
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
College Football Hall Of Fame 2026 Ballot: Ranking The 79 Nominees - Who Should Be In?
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced the names on the 2026 class ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, including 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision.A Hall of Famer should be obvious, and it's not just about name recognition. A player's popularity doesn't mean he had an all-timer impact on the sport or was one of the true greats. Perspective is needed, eras and systems have to be considered, NFL careers don't matter, and there should be some test of our ranking of all FBS player College Football Hall of Fame nominees based on how much they deserve to be in. A few things to keep in mind before going forward.1. Win a Heisman, get in the Hall. That should be automatic.2. If you have to make a case why a player deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, he probably doesn't deserve to be in. All player information from the National Football Foundation at You can vote for the College Football Hall of Fame by signing up here. This is CFN's ranking of all the nominees and not from the for the College Football Hall of Fame at the bottom. Players in italics are on. the ballot for the first time. 79. Kenjon Barner, Oregon RBDoak Walker Award Finalist, First Team All-Pac-12.78. Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green WR2009 Biletnikoff Award finalist with 155 catches and 19 touchdowns. 77. Bernard Berrian, Fresno State WR/KR2001 leaders in all-purpose yards, three-time All-WAC.76. Vernon Davis, Maryland TE2005 All-American and Mackey Award finalist.75. Greg Ellis, North Carolina DE1997 All-American and Lombardi Award finalist. North Carolina career leader in sacks.74. Matt Cavanaugh, Pittsburgh QB1977 First Team All-American who led the Panthers to a 1976 national title73. Jeff Bregel, USC OGTwo-time All-American, two-time All-Pac-12. League's top offensive lineman in 1985.72. Morten Andersen, Michigan State PKWas the Big Ten all-time leader in field goals. Three-time All-Big Ten.71. Marshawn Lynch, California RB2006 First Team All-American who led Cal to a share of the 2006 Pac-10 title 70. Terry Maki, Air Force LB1986 All-American, two-time All-WAC. All-time Air Force tackling leader. 69. Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State WR2008 All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist. Led the Big 12 in scoring and punt return average in 2008.68. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama LB2005 All-American, SEC Defensive Player of the year. Butkus and Nagurski finalist.67. Ron Rivera, Cal LB1983 consensus First Team All-American. Led team in tackles from 1981 to 1983.66. Craig Heyward, Pitt RB1987 consensus First Team All-American who led the nation in rushing his final season and finished fifth in Heisman voting65. Marvin Harrison, Syracuse WR/KRLeft Syracuse as the school's all-time receiving leader (2,718 yards).64. Deon Grant, Tennessee, S1999 All-American and Jim Thorpe finalist. 1999 AP Defensive Player of the Year.63. Leotis Harris, Arkansas OG1977 consensus First Team All-America. First-ever African-American All-America player at Arkansas62. Elvis Dumervil, Louisville DE 2005 All-American and Nagurski Award winner. 2005 Big East Defensive Player of the Year.61. Takeo Spikes, Auburn LB1997 First Team All-American and two-time First Team All-SEC selection60. Brad Banks, Iowa QB 2002 Davey O'Brien Award winner and Heisman runner-up. Big Ten offensive player of the year. 59. Ken Norton Jr., UCLA LB1987 First Team All-American, leading Bruins to four consecutive bowl wins.58. Aaron Beasley, West Virginia CB1995 consensus First Team All-American led the nation in INTs (10) in 1994 57. Randall Cobb, Kentucky WR/KR/QBOnly FBS player to rank first or second on a team in rushing, passing, and receiving, doing it in 2010. Two-time All-SEC and All-American.56. Brad Culpepper, Florida DTTwo-time sixth all-time at Florida with 47.5 career tackles for loss55. Olin Kreutz, Washington C1997 consensus First Team All-American and two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection54. Jonathan Stewart, Oregon RB2007 All-American. three-time All-Pac-10.53. Richard Seymour, Georgia DT2000 First Team All-American, two-time All-SEC.52. Marco Coleman, Georgia Tech LB1991 First Team All-America selection and finalist for the Butkus Award. Two-time First Team All-ACC selection.51. John Lee, UCLA PKTwo-time First Team All-American. Left with the NCAA's highest career field goal percentage among players with at least 55 attempts.50. Vaughn Dunbar, Indiana RB1991 unanimous First Team All-American who led the nation in rushing and finished sixth in Heisman voting. 1991 First Team All-Big Ten selection. 49. Taylor Mays, USC SThree-time All-American, Jim Thorpe finalist in 2008. Three-time All-Pac-10.48. Jonathan Vilma, Miami LB 2003 All-American, Butkus finalist. Three-time All-Big East.47. Larry Seivers, Tennessee WRTwo-time All-American in 1975 and 1976. Currently ranks sixth in Tennessee history in career reception yardage and seventh in career receptions.46. Alan Faneca, LSU OG1997 All-American and two-time All-SEC blocker. Outland Trophy finalist.45. Flozell Adams, Michigan State OT1997 First Team All-American and Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. Three-time All-Big Ten performer.44. Alex Brown, Florida DETwo-time All-American, 2021 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-SEC, all-time Florida sack leader 43. DeSean Jackson, Cal WR/PRTwo-time All-American, All-Pac-10 as a receiver and return man. Returned six punts for touchdowns.42. Kevin Hardy, Illinois LB1995 consensus First Team All-American and Butkus Award winner. Two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. 41. Dallas Clark, Iowa TE2002 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Mackey Award. Two-time All-Big Ten selection.40. Sebastian Janikowski, Florida State PKTwo-time All-American, only two-time Lou Groza winner. 39. Casey Hampton, Texas DTTwo-time All-American, 2000 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, three-time All-Big 12.38. Garrison Hearst, Georgia RB1992 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Doak Walker Award. Finished third in 1992 Heisman Trophy voting after leading the nation in scoring. 1992 SEC Player of the Year.37. Erick Anderson, Michigan LB1991 Butkus Award winner who led Michigan in tackles all four seasons.36. Herman Moore, Virginia WR1990 consensus First Team All-American who finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. Holds the NCAA record for highest average gain per reception (22.0) with a minimum of 105 catches. 35. Courtney Brown, Penn State DE1999 All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and Penn State all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss.34. Terence Newman, Kansas State CB2002 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Thorpe Award. 2002 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, also earning First Team All-Big 12 honors.33. Troy Edwards, Louisiana Tech WRAll-American and Biletnikoff winner in 1998. Left as the NCAA record holder for career touchdowns.32. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia OT2005 All-American and two-time first team All-ACC. Most starts for an offensive lineman in Virginia history.31. George Cumby, Oklahoma LBTwo-time All-American, two-time Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year who finished second in Oklahoma history in tackles.30. Ryan Leaf, Washington State QB1997 First Team All-American who finished third in Heisman Trophy voting. 29. Levar Fisher, NC State LBTwo-time All-American and 2001 ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Two-time All-ACC and NC State all-time tackling leader.28. Aaron Donald, Pitt DT2013 All-American who won the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski, and Outland. 2013 ACC Defensive Palyer of the Year, Pitt all-time leader in tackles for loss.27. Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue DENCAA record holder for forced fumbles with 14. 2010 Big Ten Defense Player of the year.26. Jarett Dillard, Rice WR2008 First Team All-American and 2006 Second Team All-American who holds the NCAA record for career TD receptions. Three-time All-C-USA performer set the conference record for career receiving yards. 25. Eric Weddle, Utah S2006 First Team All-American. Two-time MWC Defensive Player of the Year. Holds school record for career forced fumbles and ranks second in career interceptions.24. Josh Heupel, Oklahoma QB2000 consensus First Team All-American and Walter Camp Player of the Year. 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up who led the Sooners to a national title.23. Russell Carter, SMU CB1983 unanimous First Team All-American. Three-time All-SWC performer. SMU's all-time career leader in interceptions.22. Mark Carrier, USC STwo-time First Team All-American. 1989 Jim Thorpe Award winner. Two-time First Team All-Conference selection. Led the Pac-10 in interceptions in 1989 with seven.21. Todd Lyght, Notre Dame CBTwo-time First Team All-American in 1989 and 1990. Thorpe Award finalist who posted 11 career interceptions.20. Ki-Jana Carter, Penn State RB1994 All-American and Heisman Trophy runner-up. Two-time All-Big Ten selection led the league in rushing and scoring in 1994. 19. Simeon Rice, Illinois LBTwo-time First Team All-American and three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. Holds conference and school record for career sacks tackles for loss.18. Rocky Calmus, Oklahoma LBTwo-time consensus First Team All-American and 2001 Butkus Award winner. OU's all-time leader in tackles for loss. 2000 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and four-time All-Big 12.17. Byron Hanspard, Texas Tech RB1996 All-American and Doak Walker winner. Tied NCAA record by hitting 1,000 yards in five games in 1996, Three-time All-Big 12.16. Percy Harvin, Florida, WRTwo-time All-American as a wide receiver and return man. Led the nation with a 9.2 rushing average in 2007.15. Chris Hudson, Colorado DB1994 All-American and Thorpe winner, three-time All-Big 8.14. Kellen Moore, Boise State QB2010 First Team All-American finished career as the winningest starting QB (.943) in college football history. Set the NCAA record for lowest career INT percentage (.017) and tied NCAA record with four 3,000-yard passing seasons. 13. Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois QB2013 All-American and third in Heisman voting. First player in FBS history to pass for 3,000 yards and run for 1,500 in a season, and did it twice. Two-time MAC Offensive Player of the Year.12. Marcus Harris, Wyoming WRTwo-time All-American and 1996 Biletnikoff winner who set the NCAA record with 4,518 receiving yards.11. Donnell Woolford, Clemson CB/PRTwo-time All-American, two-time all-ACC. Clemson leader in broken up passes and punt returns for a score. 10. Antwaan Randle El, Indiana QB2001 First Team All-American. First player in FBS history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards in career. Finished career with more rushing yards than any quarterback in FBS history.9. Ken Dorsey, Miami QB2002 First Team All-American who led the Canes to back-to-back BCS Championship games, winning the national title his junior season. Two-time Big East Co-Offensive Player of the Year and 2001 Maxwell Player of the Year. 8. Eric Bieniemy, Colorado RB1990 unanimous First Team All-American and finished third in 1990 Heisman voting. Played in two national championships, leading Buffs to 1990 national title. Two-time All-Big 8, still holds eight Colorado records.7. Peter Warrick, Florida State WRTwo-time First Team All-American who led FSU to a national championship at the 2000 Sugar Bowl. Two-time First Team All-ACC receiver finished career as the league's all-time leading receiver. FSU's career leader in receiving TDs.6. Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska DTFourth in 2009 Heisman voting. All-American and winner of Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland. AP College Player of the Year.5. Manti Te'o, Notre Dame LBFinished second in 2012 Heisman. First player to win Maxwell, Walter Camp, Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi, and Nagurski in the same season. 4. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State LBThree-time First Team All-American, Two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. 2007 Butkus and 2006 Nagurski recipient. Led Ohio State in tackles three-straight seasons.3. Robert Griffin III, Baylor QB2011 Heisman winner. Won the Davey O'Brien and AP Player of the Year. 2011 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and two-time All-Big 12.2. Mark Ingram, Alabama RB2009 Heisman winner, BCS Championship MVP, 2009 SEC Offensive Player of the Year.1. Cam Newton, Auburn QB2010 Heisman winner, leading Auburn to the national title. Won the Davey O'Brien, Maxwell, and Walter Camp awards. 2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year. According to the National Football Foundation, to shorten and sum up the criteria:1. A player has to have been a First Team All-American on a list recognized by the NCAA. No Joe Montana.2. He's eligible ten years after his final year of playing.3. Post-career citizenship is factored into the voting, and an extra boost is given to those who earned a degree. O.J. Simpson is still in.4. Players must have played within the last 50 years. 5. A coach is eligible three years after retiring or if he's older than 70, and active coaches are eligible after age 75. He had to be a head coach for at least ten years and had to have coaches at least 100 games with a .600 minimum winning percentage (but this is being tweaked so Mike Leach will eventually become eligible). © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
San Francisco Chronicle
02-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Heisman winners Ingram, Newton, Griffin are among players on College Football Hall of Fame ballot
Heisman Trophy winners Mark Ingram, Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III and former AP National Player of the Year Ndamukong Suh are on the ballot for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class. The National Football Foundation released the ballot Monday for the class that will be announced in January. It includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from lower levels. Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman winner in 2009 after running for 1,658 yards and 20 touchdowns. Newton in 2010 was just the third player in FBS history with 20 passing and 20 rushing touchdowns. Griffin in 2011 led the nation in points responsible for and ranked second in total offense. Suh was a force for Nebraska in 2009 and became the first defensive lineman in 15 seasons to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He finished fourth in voting but was honored as the nation's top player by The Associated Press. Among other players on the ballot are Iowa's Brad Banks, Colorado's Eric Bieniemy, Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant, Penn State's Ki-Jana Carter, Pittsburgh's Aaron Donald, Syracuse's Marvin Harrison, Oklahoma's Josh Heupel, Ohio State's James Laurinaitis, Washington State's Ryan Leaf, California's Marshawn Lynch, Illinois' Simeon Rice and Florida State's Peter Warrick. Among coaches on the ballot are Larry Coker, Gary Patterson and Chris Petersen. Coker led the Canes to consecutive national championship games and won the 2002 Rose Bowl to become the first rookie head coach to lead his team to a title since 1948. Patterson is TCU's all-time wins leader who led the Horned Frogs to six AP top 10 final rankings. Petersen is Boise State's all-time wins leader who led the Broncos to two undefeated seasons and led Washington to the 2016 College Football Playoff. The NFF also announced an adjustment to the eligibility criteria for coaches to be considered for induction. The minimum career winning percentage required for coaching eligibility will go from .600 to .595 beginning in 2027. The change would make Mike Leach eligible. Leach, who died in 2022, had a .596 winning percentage with a 158-107 record over 21 seasons at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. Leach was known for his innovative wide-open offenses and his knack for pulling upsets. He won 18 games against Top 25 opponents when his team was unranked. ___
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
