Two Alabama football legends on College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 2026
Two Alabama football legends on College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 2026
A pair of Alabama football legends are under consideration for the College Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class.
On Monday, the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced the names of 79 former players and coaches who are under consideration for Hall of Fame induction. Two former Crimson Tide players are eligible for induction in the 2026 class: linebacker DeMeco Ryans and Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner, running back Mark Ingram.
Mark Ingram (2008-10)
Ingram was a huge contributor for Alabama's first national championship team in 17 years -- and the Crimson Tide's first under Nick Saban -- in 2009. The Flint, Michigan, high school star rushed for 1,658 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns en route to both the Heisman Trophy and SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors.
In that year's SEC Championship Game against Florida, Ingram ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns to go with a 69-yard catch-and-run as the Crimson Tide dethroned the defending national champions and quarterback Tim Tebow. A month later, Ingram was the offensive MVP in the Tide's 37-21 BCS Championship Game win over Texas at the Rose Bowl, going for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
He finished his career at Alabama with 3,261 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns and single-handedly took over such games as the Crimson Tide's 20-6 win over South Carolina in 2009 when the offense had fallen into a midseason rut. Ingram rushed for 246 yards (10.3 AVG) -- primarily out of the Wildcat -- against Steve Spurrier's Gamecocks on Oct. 17 as Alabama improved to 7-0.
DeMeco Ryans (2002-05)
Ryans was a star linebacker at Alabama for one season under Dennis Franchione and three seasons under Mike Shula. He won the Lott IMPACT Trophy in his senior season in 2005 as part of a 10-win Alabama team that defeated Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl and had thrilling regular-season wins over Tennessee and Florida.
That same year, Ryans was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year and still holds the Alabama single-game record for tackles with 25. In his final season in Tuscaloosa, Ryans led defensive coordinator Joe Kines' unit with 76 tackles (9.5 for loss) and had 3.5 sacks, plus an interception and a forced fumble.
Controversial former Alabama head coach under consideration for College Football Hall of Fame
Speaking of Franchione, the two-year former Crimson Tide coach is one of nine former college football coaches on the ballot for Hall of Fame induction in 2026. Franchione led Alabama to a 7-5 season in his first year in 2001, including a 31-7 upset win over Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium in that year's Iron Bowl.
Alabama went 10-3 in Franchione's next season in 2002 before he bolted for the Texas A&M job.
The announcement for the Hall of Fame class will be made in early 2026.
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