On Monday, the College Football Hall of Fame announced the names for its 2026 ballot, and four who left their marks in the state of Alabama were included.
Former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, Auburn Heisman-winning quarterback Cam Newton, Alabama Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram and Alabama linebacker DeMeco Ryans were among the 79 standout players and nine legendary coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision nominated.
CFB Hall's write-up of the four nominees as follows:
Mark Ingram, Alabama - Running Back - 2009 unanimous First Team All-American and the Tide's first-ever Heisman Trophy winner…Named Offensive MVP of the 2010 BCS National Championship after posting 116 rush yards and two TDs…2009 SEC Offensive Player of the Year led the conference in rushing (1,658) and total TDs (20) in 2009.
DeMeco Ryans, Alabama-Linebacker - 2005 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Lott IMPACT Trophy…2005 NFF National Scholar-Athlete and finalist for the Butkus and Nagurski awards…2005 SEC Defensive Player of the Year holds the Alabama single-game record for tackles (25 vs. Arkansas, 2003) and ranks fifth in Tide history with 309 career tackles.
Cam Newton, Auburn-Quarterback - 2010 consensus First Team All-American and Heisman Trophy winner who led the Tigers to a BCS National Championship…Collected Davey O'Brien, Manning, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards in 2010 after becoming just the third player in FBS annals to post at least 20 passing and 20 rushing TDs in a single season…2010 SEC Offensive Player of the Year posted six TDs in the 2010 SEC Championship, earning Offensive MVP honors en route to the conference title.
Tommy Tuberville - Mississippi (1995-98), Auburn (1999-08), Texas Tech (2010-12), Cincinnati (2013-16) - 2004 National Coach of the Year after leading Auburn to an SEC title and a perfect 13-0 season...Led the Tigers to four division crowns, two SEC championship game appearances, and ranks 10th in conference history with 64 SEC regular season wins…Led Cincinnati to a 9-4 (7-1) record and a share of the AAC title in 2014.
Another name familiar with Alabama is Dennis Franchione, who left Alabama's head coaching position after two years to take the job at Texas A&M.
CFB Hall said of Franchione as follows:
Dennis Franchione - Southwestern [KS] (1981-82), Pittsburg State (1985-89), Texas State (1990-91), New Mexico (1992-97), TCU (1998-2000), Alabama (2001-02), Texas A&M (2003-07), Texas State (2011-15) - Two-time NAIA National Coach of the Year before moving into Division I, twice coaching at Texas State and eventually leading the Bobcats' transition to the FBS…Known for revitalizing struggling programs, led New Mexico to its first bowl in 36 years and TCU to its first postseason win since 1957…Took over a 3-8 Alabama team and led the Tide to a 10-win season in just two years, later guiding Texas A&M to consecutive victories over archrival Texas (2006-07) and a berth in the 2005 Cotton Bowl.
According to the College Football Hall of Fame, final selections for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced in early 2026. Inductees will be honored in Las Vegas during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on December 8, 2026, followed by on-campus salutes throughout the fall season.
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