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.
___
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Nebraska is the latest state to ban transgender students from girls' sports
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law Wednesday a measure banning transgender students from girls' sports, making the state the latest to keep transgender athletes from competing on women's and girls' teams. Pillen signed the law flanked by dozens of lawmakers, women athletes and other advocates — including former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who has made a name for herself as a vocal advocate of banning transgender athletes from women's sports. The measure passed by the Nebraska Legislature last week broke a filibuster by a single vote cast along party lines. It was pared down from its initial form, which also sought to bar transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their gender identity. Sponsors agreed to drop the bathroom and locker room ban when one Republican — Omaha Sen. Merv Riepe — declared he would vote against it otherwise. The measure was first introduced in 2023 by then-freshman Sen. Kathleen Kauth, but failed to advance as lawmakers angrily argued over Kauth's other bill that sought to bar gender-affirming care for transgender minors under the age of 19. An amended version that banned gender-affirming surgery — but not all gender-affirming care — for minors later passed and was enacted that year. On Wednesday, Kauth promised to revive her bathroom and locker room ban next year, reiterating her rejection that people can determine their own gender. 'Men are men and women are women,' she said, and urged voters in Riepe's district to pressure him to support it. Republicans behind the sports ban say it protects women and girls and their ability to fairly compete in sports. Opponents say with so few transgender students seeking to participate in sports, the measure is a solution in search of a problem. Fewer than 10 transgender students have participated in middle school and high school sports in the state over the past decade, according to the Nebraska School Activities Association. At least 24 other states have adopted similar bans. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order this year intended to dictate which sports competitions transgender athletes can enter and has battled in court with Maine over that state's allowing transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska denounced the measure. ACLU Nebraska Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman said the ban 'slams the door shut' for some transgender students to fully participate in their school communities. 'This ban will only create problems, not solve any,' Rush Chipman said, adding that 'the constant targeting of LGBTQ+ Nebraskans must stop.'
National Post
an hour ago
- National Post
SIMMONS: Bam Bam Barger may be the real deal for Blue Jays
Growing up, there were two dogs in the Barger household. One named Bam Bam and the other named Pebbles. Article content 'Were you a Flintstones guy?' Addison Barger was asked the other day, the dog names clearly coming from the legendary television cartoon. Article content 'Not me,' he said. 'I guess my parents were Flintstones people.' Article content It all seems kind of funny right now that the kid born in Washington State and grew up in Florida has been tabbed 'Bam Bam' by Jamie Campbell and others on the Sportsnet Blue Jays' television crew. Article content Bam Bam Barger. It has a certain ring to it. Like Bam Bam Bigelow or Bam Bam Meulens. Article content He doesn't mind the name, really, if that's what it is, so long as he can live up to the billing. Article content It feels good that they're calling him anything at all these days, as the bevy of Blue Jays youngsters continue to fight for playing time, attention and, maybe in this case, full-time work. Article content Article content Barger has hit four home runs in the past four Blue Jays games. He has played both third base and right field in that time. He has unlikely natural power and a Jesse Barfield type of arm. He has some gifts from his stocky 5-foot-11, 225-pound frame. Article content It's always too early to make this kind of claim for any kid on the way up, but this one looks like real. Article content Even when striking out, Barger looks big league with a swing and a miss. Article content The lineup of Blue Jays possibilities has been long and rather unproductive in recent seasons. The door has been open for Davis Schneider and Will Wagner and Joey Loperfido and Alan Roden and Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw and Jonatan Clase and Michael Stefanic. The opportunity has been there for a bunch of them. Article content Article content Barger has punched his way into the starting lineup, with hard-swinging power and a versatility that takes him from third base to the outfield with the hardest thing of all for any big leaguer on the rise: An inner confidence that belies his accomplishments to date. Article content Article content COVID-19 changed a lot of our lives in a lot of different ways and the pandemic changed Barger's baseball path. He lost a minor-league season in 2020, as did so many of his cohorts. That was supposed to hurt budding prospects, not help.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Suns hire Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as head coach, AP source says
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoenix Suns hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their head coach, opting for a young, emerging leader to rebuild a franchise that has regressed over the past few seasons, a person familiar with the search told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the hire hasn't officially been announced. Ott will be the team's fourth head coach in four seasons and replaces Mike Budenholzer, who was fired following a miserable 36-46 season that ended without a trip to the playoffs despite the high-priced trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal. The 40-year-old Ott has worked for the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Cavaliers. He also worked as a video coordinator under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, which is where Suns owner Mat Ishbia played as a walk-on from 1999 to 2003. It remains to be seen if Durant or Beal will be on next season's roster — both could be moved in trades. Booker seems like the only player on the roster who is truly untouchable after 10 seasons in the desert, including four All-Star appearances. Ott and fellow Cavs assistant Johnnie Bryant were the two finalists for the job. Ishbia and general manager Brian Gregory led a lengthy, deliberate search that lasted 1 1/2 months and included more than a dozen candidates. ESPN first reported the hiring. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP NBA:
