1/13: The NFF talks THE SLAP with John Henderson!

January 13, 2026

Good morning, football fans! 2025 Campbell Trophy finalist Blake Horvath is making us all proud — the Navy quarterback has announced he will become a U.S. Navy pilot!

During the 2026 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Annual Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame presented the NFF divisional national championship trophies to the coaches of the 2025 winning teams on Jan. 11!

CLICK HERE to read more about Montana State (FCS), Ferris State (D-II), Wisconsin-River Falls (D-III) and Grand View (NAIA).

In the latest episode of the Good in the Game Podcast, host LaVar Arrington chats in-person with Tennessee and Jags great Big John Henderson! The guys catch up at the NFF Awards Dinner honoring the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, which John was elected to. John and LaVar discuss the Hall of Fame, his INSANE pregame slap routine & what advice he would give to younger players in the game.

Doug Peacock, who played collegiately at Indiana and spent one season coaching in the USFL in 1984 with the Orlando Renegades, has passed away.

Jim Furlong, who played collegiately at Tulsa and later became a Grey Cup champion with the Calgary Stampeders, has passed away. He was 85.

Randy McMillan, a star running back at Pitt before becoming a first round selection of the Baltimore Colts in the 1981 NFL Draft, has passed away. He was 67.

Dick Dull, who served as the athletic director at Maryland from 1981-86, has passed away. He was 80.

Billy Truax, who earned All-America honors as a tight end at LSU before spending 10 seasons in the NFL, has passed away. He was 82.

Nick Eddy, an All-America running back who helped Notre Dame win the 1966 national championship, has passed away. He was 81.

Oscar Lofton, a three-sport letterman at Southeastern from 1957-59 who later played for the Boston Patriots and coached at Southeastern before serving as athletic director at the school, has passed away. He was 87.

Jim Dennison, the head coach at Akron from 1973-85 and the athletics director from 1986-93, has passed away.

Ron DeMelfi, who played collegiately at George Washington from 1957-59 and later coached at the school, has passed away. He was 87.

Robert Hicks Sr., who played collegiately at Florida, has passed away. He was 91.

There are good things happening all over the game of football. The National Football Foundation has asked individuals to share an example of something they see happening within our sport that is good for the game. Here are their answers!

. . .

“The thing that I learned most [in football], at Notre Dame we had to go to school. We had to be in class. I liked to push the limits a little, but if I did that, Ara [Parseghian] would be all over me. He didn’t care about All-Americans, he didn’t care about the pros, he cared about the diploma. That was the biggest thing for me.”

— Terry Hanratty, 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee

January 19, 2026 — CFP National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

January 29, 2026 — Announcement of the State Winners of the 2025-26 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards, Presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation

February 5, 2026 — Announcement of 2025-26 Recipient of the NFF Hatchell Cup, Presented by Bob’s Steak & Chop House

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