Nick Saban, Mark Ingram join Chris Samuels on College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Two former Alabama football players and former head coach Nick Saban are on the 2025 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, the National Football Foundation announced. Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram and offensive lineman Chris Samuels were among the 77 FBS players to make the cut, while Saban was one of nine coaches.

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.

Chris Samuels, Alabama – Offensive Tackle: 1999 unanimous First Team All-American and Outland Trophy recipient…Two-time First Team All-SEC selection who led the Tide to a 1999 conference title…SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner who did not allow a sack the entire 1999 season and blocked for 1,000-yard rusher Shawn Alexander.

Nick Saban – Toledo (1990), Michigan State (1995-99), LSU (2000-04), Alabama (2007-23): Boasts the most national championships in FBS history, winning four BCS titles and three CFP championships during his career…First coach in history to win a national title with two different FBS schools (LSU, Alabama) since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936 and finished career with the sixth-most wins (292) all-time in FBS history…Led Bama to a top 10 final ranking in 16 consecutive seasons, including 12 top-five finishes, and won 11 conference titles and 19 bowl games overall.

The announcement of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2025, with specific details to be announced in the future.

Four former Alabama coaches are in the College Football Hall of Fame – Paul “Bear” Bryant, Gene Stallings, Frank Thomas and Wallace Wade. The Alabama players who were voted to the Hall of Fame include Cornelius Bennett, Johnny Mack Brown, John Cain, Sylvester Croom, Harry Gilmer, John Hannah, Millard Howell, Pooley Hubert, Don Hutson, Lee Roy Jordan, E.J. Junior, Antonio Langham, Woodrow Lowe, Marty Lyons, Vaughn Mancha, Johnny Musso, Billy Neighbors, Ozzie Newsome, Fred Sington, Riley Smith and Derrick Thomas.

The criteria for Hall of Fame consideration include:

• First and foremost, a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition by a selector that is recognized by the NCAA and utilized to comprise its consensus All-America teams.

• A player becomes eligible for consideration by the Foundation’s Honors Courts 10 full seasons after his final year of intercollegiate football played.

• While each nominee’s football achievements in college are of prime consideration, his post-football record as a citizen is also weighed. He must have proven himself worthy as a citizen, carrying the ideals of football forward into his relations with his community. Consideration may also be given for academic honors and whether the candidate earned a college degree.

• Players must have played their last year of intercollegiate football within the last 50 years.* For example, to be eligible for the 2023 ballot, the player must have played his last year in 1973 or thereafter. In addition, players who are playing professionally and coaches who are coaching on the professional level are not eligible until after they retire.

• A coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided he is at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. He must have been a head football coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .600 winning percentage.

• Nominations may only be submitted by the current athletics director, head coach or sports information director (SID) of a potential candidate’s collegiate institution. Nominations may also be submitted by the president/executive director of a dues-paying chapter of the National Football Foundation.

To see the full list of player candidates for the College Football Hall of Fame, CLICK HERE. 

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