Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton Return To College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

Heisman-winning quarterbacks Cam Newton (2010) of Auburn and Robert Griffin III (2011) of Baylor as well as five Heisman runners-up, four other finalists and a handful of top 10 vote-getters were named on Monday (June 1) to the National Football Foundation’s (NFF) 2027 Ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.

Mark Ingram became the 69th Heisman Trophy winner inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this year in January.

The 2027 ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. Heisman runners-up on the ballot include Iowa quarterback Brad Banks (2002), Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon (2014), Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel (2000), Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (2008, also a finalist in 2009) and Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o (2012).

Newton and Griffin III and the five runners-up are among 11 Heisman finalists on the ballot this year, which also include Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf (third in 1997), Miami quarterback Ken Dorsey (third in 2001), Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore (fourth in 2010) and Pittsburgh running back Craig Heyward (fifth in 1987).

Other top-10 Heisman finishers on the ballot include Michigan quarterback Rick Leach (third in 1978), Indiana running back Vaughn Dunbar (sixth in 1991), Indiana quarterback Antwaan Randle El (sixth in 2001), Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk (sixth in 2005), Pittsburgh quarterback Matt Cavanaugh (seven in 1977), Washington running back Greg Lewis (seventh in 1990), Wyoming wide receiver Marcus Harris (ninth in 1996), Oregon running back Kenjon Barner (ninth in 2012) and Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil (10th in 2005).

Longtime head coach Jim Carlen, who coached 1980 Heisman winner George Rogers at South Carolina, is also on the ballot.

The complete ballot is available here.

Prior to Ingram joining the 2026 class, the two most recent inductees into the Hall of Fame were Florida’s Tim Tebow and USC’s Reggie Bush, both part of the 2023 class. Other recent inductees include Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam (2022), USC’s Carson Palmer (2021), Nebraska’s Eric Crouch (2020), Michigan’s Charles Woodson (2018) and Palmer’s USC teammate Matt Leinart (2017).

The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2027 season.