BREAKING: Randall Cobb and Elvis Dumervil Named to 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
IRVING, Texas & Kentucky The National Football Foundation (NFF) has announced the 2026 ballot for its prestigious College Football Hall of Fame, and two former Ottoman players from the Bluegrass State have secured spots: former Kentucky Wildcat Randall Cobb and former Louisville Cardinal Elvis Dumervil
Cobb, who starred at the University of Kentucky from 2008 to 2010, made his mark as an all-purpose threat—playing wide receiver, quarterback, and returning punts and kickoffs. In his standout junior season, he earned first-team All-America honors and captured two first-team All‑SEC nods. Cobb set the SEC single-season all-purpose yardage record with 2,396 yards and remain’s UK’s career touchdown leader with 37 ([aseaofblue.com][2]). Notably, he led UK in rushing, passing, and receiving in the same season—an NCAA rarity. After leaving college early, Cobb embarked on a 13-year NFL career and later graduated in 2016, becoming the first in his immediate family to earn a degree ([aseaofblue.com][2]).
Meanwhile, Dumervil, a Louisville standout from 2002–2005, earned unanimous first-team All-American honors in 2005. That season he claimed the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player, led the nation with 20 sacks, registered 22 tackles for loss, and set an NCAA record with six sacks in a single game versus Kentucky ([footballfoundation.org][3]). He capped the year with both the Ted Hendricks and Bill Willis Awards, and later enjoyed a decorated NFL tenure marked by four Pro Bowl nods before being inducted into Louisville’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011 ([spectrumnews1.com][4]).
Each year, more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers receive the ballot, featuring 79 FBS players and nine coaches, alongside several from smaller divisions ([nkytribune.com][5]). The chosen 2026 class will be publicly revealed in early 2026. Their formal induction is scheduled for December 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas—capping the 68th annual NFF Awards Dinner. The moment will also include on-campus celebrations at each honoree’s alma mater during the 2026 season ([aseaofblue.com][2]).
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