Many things are happening right now in college football. With just a few months left, teams have limited time to build a strong roster. Programs like Georgia, Texas Tech, and Virginia are still actively navigating the transfer portal to reshape their squads for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, teams are also fighting hard to strengthen their 2026 recruiting class, securing commitments from high school standouts. Amid all this movement, the College Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony seems to have appeared out of nowhere, even though it’s still half a year away.
Heisman Winners Lead 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Nominee List
Among all the names on the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, it’s the Heisman winners who are grabbing the spotlight. Their legendary college careers still spark excitement, and now, they’re a step closer to football’s highest honor.
Congratulations to Heisman Trophy Winners @markingramII, @CameronNewton and @RGIII on being named on the 2026 @NFFNetwork College Football Hall of Fame Ballot! pic.twitter.com/yqt33ucz4i
— The Heisman Trophy (@HeismanTrophy) June 2, 2025
The National Football Foundation recently released the official ballot for 2026, featuring 79 former players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision up for consideration. This star-studded list makes the selection process incredibly competitive, as the ballot size remains substantial year to year.
For reference, the 2025 ballot featured 77 players and nine coaches. So, selecting just a few from such a deep talent pool in 2026 will be incredibly tough. Every nominee carries a legacy. Choosing between stars like former Iowa quarterback Brad Banks and Northern Illinois standout Jordan Lynch is no easy task.
However, the biggest buzz surrounds the three Heisman Trophy winners on the ballot: Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, and Mark Ingram.
Mark Ingram made his mark at Alabama, rushing for 3,261 yards and 42 touchdowns over three seasons. Cam Newton followed up the very next year with one of the greatest single seasons in history. In 2010, he passed for 2,854 yards, added 30 touchdowns through the air, rushed for 1,473 yards, scored 20 more touchdowns, and led Auburn to a national championship.
And, Robert Griffin III didn’t win a national championship, but he remains one of the most notable Heisman Trophy winners, probably heading to the 2026 Hall of Fame.
While these Heisman winners headline the class, they aren’t the only ones with impressive resumes. The ballot also features two players who were named first-team All-Americans three times:
- James Laurinaitis (Ohio State, LB)
- Taylor Mays (USC, S)
In addition, 17 other players earned All-American honors in two separate seasons. Some standout names include:
- Percy Harvin (Florida, WR/Returner)
- Peter Warrick (Florida State, WR)
- Donnell Woolford (Clemson, CB)
- Sebastian Janikowski (Florida State, K)
With the voting process underway, the CFB community will eagerly await the final selections. If Griffin III, Newton, or Ingram secure their spots, they will join the ranks of 68 Heisman winners already enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
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