The 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class was revealed this week, and there are some big names in the field.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide legendary running back and the school’s first Heisman winner Mark Ingram headlines the induction class along with standout defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska and Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh), both of whom went on to have sensational and Hall of Fame worthy careers at the next level.
During Ingram’s Heisman season, he had 1,658 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, finishing his Alabama career as the all-time leader in rushing scores, a record which has since been broken by both Derrick Henry and Najee Harris. Ingram would enjoy a lengthy NFL career of his own which spanned 12 years and saw him rush for over 8,000 yards and 65 touchdowns.
Notably, one player who did not make this year’s class was former Auburn quarterback as well as a Heisman winner and national champion in Cam Newton. Finding himself on the ballot for the first time, Newton likely did not make it on the first ballot because all of his production came within one season.
It was a magical campaign though, and Newton’s 2010 season is considered arguably the greatest in the history of the sport. He is all but a guarantee to be inducted eventually, it just seems he will have to wait a little bit longer. Newton joins former Baylor Heisman winning quarterback Robert Griffin III as a snub from the ballot while Johnny Manziel despite being eligible was not even on the ballot.
Though he did not make the CFB Hall of Fame this year, he did have his jersey officially retired by Auburn and made it back to Jordan-Hare Stadium for a special ceremony this past season.
Ingram was on his second ballot after falling short in 2025, and now he gets the honor of making it into the Hall with some of the most distinguished players and coaches in history.
The ceremony will not be held until December of 2026 at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas during the National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner.
