Star defensive players Ndamukong Suh and Aaron Donald, former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and wideout Marvin Harrison are part of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class, announced by the National Football Foundation and the Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Running back Garrison Hearst, safety Eric Weddle and coach Chris Petersen also are among the 22-person class that includes 18 players and four coaches.
The class includes 10 unanimous first-team All-Americans. Eleven of the players were offensive performers and seven were defenders.
“We are thrilled to announce the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class,” said Archie Manning, NFF Chairman and a 1989 College Football Hall of Famer from Ole Miss. “Each of these legends ranks among the absolute best to have ever played or coached the game, and we look forward to adding their incredible accomplishments to those permanently enshrined in the NFF Hall of Fame.”
Suh and Donald were dominating college players before enjoying stellar NFL careers.
Suh (2006-09) was a first-team All-American for Nebraska and put together one of the top defensive seasons in college history in 2009. The defensive tackle had 12 sacks and won the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland awards as well as finishing fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting.
Donald (2010-13) of Pittsburgh also swept the top four defensive awards in 2013 when he recorded a staggering 28.5 tackles for loss. The defensive tackle had 66 TFL’s overall in his dominating career for the Panthers.
Ingram (2008-10) became the first player in Alabama’s storied history to win the Heisman in 2009 when he rushed for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns and scored 20 overall while leading the Crimson Tide to the national title. He finished his career with 3,261 rushing yards and 42 rushing scores.
Before Harrison (1992-95) was a stellar NFL player, he was a superb receiver and returner at Syracuse. He had 13 100-yard outings and 20 career touchdowns as a receiver and also returned two punts for scores.
Hearst (1990-92) finished third in the Heisman balloting in 1992 when he rushed for 1,547 yards and scored 21 total touchdowns for Georgia. Overall, he had 3,232 yards and 33 touchdowns on the ground.
Weddle (2003-06) was a lightly recruited safety who was given a chance by then-Utah coach Urban Meyer and became one of top pieces of the school’s undefeated season in 2004. He intercepted 18 career passes and forced nine fumbles and also had a stunning eight touchdowns in 2006 with scores coming on defense, as well as a runner, passer and return specialist.
Petersen coached at Boise State (92-12 from 2006-13) and Washington (55-26 from 2014-19) and had three top-five national finishes (two at Boise State, one at Washington). Petersen’s first season at Boise State (13-0 in 2006) concluded with one of the biggest upsets in college football history in the Fiesta Bowl when the Broncos beat Oklahoma 43-42. The highlights included a hook-and-lateral to tie the game with 7 seconds left in regulation and a Statue of Liberty play two-point conversion to win it in overtime.
Other players who are part of the class are New Hampshire running back Jerry Azumah (1995-98), Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter (1991-94), Texas-Arlington offensive tackle Bruce Collie (1981-84), Oklahoma linebacker George Cumby (1976-79), Colorado defensive back Chris Hudson (1991-94), Washington center Olin Kreutz (1995-97), Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis (2005-08), Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch (2010-13), Virginia receiver Herman Moore (1988-90), Kansas State cornerback Terence Newman (1999-2002), U.S. Military Academy guard Bob Novogratz (1957-58) and Florida State receiver Peter Warrick (1996-99).
The other coaches to earn induction are deceased Jim Margraff (1990-2018) of John Hopkins and the late Ken Sparks (1980-2016) of Carson-Newman. TCU’s Gary Patterson (2000-21) also will be inducted.
Induction ceremonies are Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.
–Field Level Media
