College Football Hall of Fame Ballot: Sportswriters Make Their Picks

On Monday, the National Football Foundation released the annual ballot of players and coaches eligible for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in December 2027. The ballot includes over 200 names, featuring 33 consensus All-Americans, several Heisman Trophy winners, and numerous national champions.

Sports Illustrated writers Pat Forde, Bryan Fischer, Patrick Andres, and Tim Capurso discussed their hypothetical ballots, limited to 10 FBS players and three FBS head coaches, and identified notable omissions.

Player Ballot Selections

Pat Forde

Quarterbacks: Cam Newton (Auburn), Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Kellen Moore (Boise State), Ken Dorsey (Miami)

Offensive skill: Melvin Gordon III (Wisconsin), Percy Harvin (Florida)

Defensive: Terrell Suggs (Arizona State), Elvis Dumervil (Louisville), Manti Te’o (Notre Dame), Patrick Peterson (LSU)

Toughest omissions: Aqib Talib (Kansas), Colt McCoy (Texas), Antwaan Randle El (Indiana), Bruce Matthews (USC), Barrett Jones (Alabama), Chase Coffman (Missouri)

Bryan Fischer

Locks: Newton, Griffin, Moore

Others: Suggs, Mark Carrier (USC), Te’o, Casey Hampton (Texas), Kenjon Barner (Oregon), Gordon, Peterson

Toughest omissions: Marshawn Lynch (California), Harvin, Ray Mickens (Texas A&M)

Patrick Andres

Locks: Griffin, Newton, Moore

Others: Hampton, Suggs, Te’o, A.J. Hawk (Ohio State), Gordon, Jeff Bregel (USC), Russell Okung (Oklahoma State)

Toughest omissions: McCoy, Tavon Austin (West Virginia), Ken Dorsey, Jarett Dillard (Rice), Troy Edwards (Louisiana Tech), Marcus Harris (Wyoming)

Tim Capurso

Locks: Newton, Griffin, Moore, Te’o

Others: Colt McCoy (Texas), Dumervil, Deon Grant (Tennessee), Barrett Jones (Alabama), Gordon, Austin

Toughest omissions: Suggs, Dorsey, Sebastian Janikowski (Florida State)

Head Coach Ballot Selections

Pat Forde

• Mike Leach (Texas Tech, Washington State, Mississippi State)
• Dennis Franchione (Southwest Texas State, TCU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Texas State)
• Howard Schnellenberger (Miami, Louisville, Florida Atlantic) – not on ballot due to winning percentage

Bryan Fischer

• Leach
• Ralph Friedgen (Maryland)
• Jackie Sherrill (Washington State, Pitt, Texas A&M, Mississippi State)

Patrick Andres

• Leach
• Sherrill
• Larry Coker (Miami) – over Friedgen and Tommy Tuberville

Tim Capurso

• Leach
• Coker
• Jim Carlen (West Virginia, Texas Tech, South Carolina)

Notable Non-FBS Candidates

Pat Forde

• Nate Kmic (Mount Union)
• Ashley Ambrose (Mississippi Valley State)
• Gregg Brandon (Bowling Green, Colorado School of Mines)

Bryan Fischer

• Jahri Evans (Bloomsburg)
• Claude Mathis (Texas State)
• Kmic

Patrick Andres

• Kmic
• Bill Borchert (Mount Union)
• Dusty Bonner (Valdosta State)
• Paul Smith (Gettysburg)

Tim Capurso

• Peter Catan (Eastern Illinois)
• Bobby Hedrick (Elon)