The 2025 Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place on Friday, May 23, where a total of eight legends were inducted. The event included a VIP dinner the night before, followed by a brunch on enshrinement day and a post-ceremony autograph session.
The 2025 class consisted of eight legends from several generations of college football. Among them was Houston Texans head coach Demeco Ryans, who was being honored for his performance in the 2006 edition. Let’s take a look back at how he made Cotton Bowl history.
DeMeco Ryans Enshrined in Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame for Legendary Alabama Career
Being inducted into a Hall of Fame is always a huge honor. For DeMeco Ryans, though, this moment was even more special because he was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame alongside fellow Alabamian and Auburn legend Bo Jackson.
If you only know Bo Jackson by name, here’s a quick note—he is one of the greatest athletes the state has ever produced. So, standing next to him in the Hall of Fame marks a major milestone for the former ‘Bama linebacker.
The 2025 class recognized him for his outstanding college career at Alabama. Currently, as the Houston Texans’ head coach, he is trying to bring the same passion and dedication to coaching as he did on the field. Both Alabama and Houston came together to celebrate this special moment on Instagram.
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“Officially part of Cotton Bowl history! 🙌 Back in 2006, Coach Ryans helped lead Alabama to their 70th Cotton Bowl win, locking down the nation’s top passing offense in the process. Congrats to Coach Ryans on being a 2025 inductee into the Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame!” the caption from the Texans’ account posted.
That 2006 Cotton Bowl was Ryan’s final college appearance. And it was the perfect way to say goodbye. Truly, not many players get such a storybook ending to their college careers, but he did.
He helped Alabama defeat Texas Tech 13–10, facing the nation’s No. 1 passing offense. Along with leading the team, he recorded 1.5 sacks and seven tackles, earning the Felix R. McKnight Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game and co-MVP honors alongside QB Brodie Croyle.
Speaking about his induction, the Texas HC called it a surreal moment, saying, “This is a special moment for me. You think back in college, my last college game, trying to play the game the right way.”
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He added, “You never are thinking about the Hall of Fame and what it will lead to later down the road, but to just play with passion, play with energy, and just doing what I was supposed to do and doing it the right way has led me to this moment. It’s just truly a surreal moment.”
Also on in the 2025 class along with Ryans and Jackson was former Notre Dame FB Jerome Bettis, Texas LB Randy Braband, Ole Miss HC David Cutcliffe, Nebraska RB Tony Davis, Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Chief Ambassador, Past Chair and former Team Selection & Playoff Committee Chair Finley (Fin) Ewing III, and CBAA Historian Charlie Fiss.
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