Every week, the National Football Foundation highlights the people, stories and moments that demonstrate football's impact beyond the field.
Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists
Take Center Stage in Week 5
Several 2026 Campbell Trophy® semifinalists will take center stage this weekend, including a pair of AP Top 25 matchups featuring semifinalists on both teams. The NFF will announce the members of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments on Oct. 21, with each receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and becoming a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy® as one of the premier student-athletes in the nation.
No. 5 Ohio State at No. 14 Iowa will feature two Campbell Trophy® semifinalists when Buckeyes OL Carson Hinzman squares off against Hawkeyes LB Jayden Montgomery. The Big Ten matchup kicks off Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
No. 7 Alabama at No. 16 Mississippi State provides another matchup between semifinalists, with Crimson Tide S Bray Hubbard and Bulldogs P Ethan Pulliam, both taking the field Saturday at noon ET on ABC.
Other games featuring AP-ranked teams and Campbell Trophy® semifinalists include:
Vanderbilt (DL Nick Rinaldi) at No. 2 Georgia (QB Gunner Stockton) — Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
No. 3 Notre Dame (S Luke Talich) at North Carolina (OL Christo Kelly) — Saturday, noon ET on ESPN. Both teams feature Campbell Trophy® semifinalists.
No. 4 Miami at Clemson (DL Will Heldt) — Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
No. 8 Florida at No. 25 Missouri (OL Dominick Giudice) — Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
No. 9 BYU (S Raider Damuni) at TCU (QB Jaden Craig) — Saturday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
No. 12 Texas Tech (OL Sheridan Wilson) at Colorado — Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
No. 17 Tennessee (LB Arion Carter) hosts Auburn (QB Byrum Brown) — Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
No. 20 Houston (DB Kentrell Webb) hosts UCF — Saturday, noon ET on ESPN2.
No. 21 SMU (OL Joshua Bates) hosts Boston College (LS Luca Lombardo) — Saturday, noon ET on The CW
No. 24 Kentucky (DB Ty Bryant) at South Carolina (WR Nyck Harbor) — Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network
Divisional Games between ranked teams with semifinalists this week include:
FCS: No. 2 South Dakota State (DL Max Pelham) at No. 11 Illinois State (QB Mason Kaplan) — Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
FCS: No. 10 Youngstown State (QB Beau Brungard) at No. 25 Southern Illinois — Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
FCS: No. 20 Colgate (K Luke Vogeler) at No. 22 Harvard (OL Jack Donahoe) — Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
The NFF & College Hall of Fame have announced the 12 honorees who will receive NFF awards during festivities surrounding the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8!
The honorees include leaders in athletics administration, broadcasting, officiating, communications, bowl administration and the NFF's nationwide chapter network.
Click here to read more about the honorees.
Garrison Hearst — RB, Georgia
Garrison Hearst was honored during Georgia's home game on Sept. 26. From left: Fidelity Vice President Ryan Hunt, NFF COO Matthew Sign, NFF Vice Chairwoman Kathleen Murphy, Hearst, NFF Trustee and UGA President Jere W. Morehead, and UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks.
Mark Ingram — RB, Alabama
Mark Ingram was honored at Alabama’s Sept. 26 home game. From left: Fidelity VP Jessica DeMill, NFF Director of Events Courtney Archer, Ingram, NFF College Football Hall of Fame Coach Nick Saban and Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. Photo Credit: Crimson Tide Productions
James Laurinaitis — LB, Ohio State
James Laurinaitis was honored during Ohio State's Sept. 26 home game. From left: his wife, Shelly, and children, Laurinaitis, NFF Trustee & NFF Honors Court Chairman Archie Griffin, Fidelity VP Jim Stair and Ohio State SVP and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director Ross Bjork.
The late Ken Sparks — Head Coach,
Carson-Newman (TN)
The late coach Ken Sparks was honored during the Carson-Newman home game on Sept. 26. Pictured from left: NFF Mountain Empire Chapter Board Member Don Gonce, Sparks’ daughter Chanda Sparks, his son Chad Sparks, and Carson-Newman President, Dr. Charles Fowler.
The NFF’s Good in the Game Podcast is part of the NFF’s ongoing conversation with leaders shaping the future of college football.
2026 NFF College Hall of Fame electee Chris Petersen sat down with host LaVar Arrington on the latest Good in the Game Podcast for one of the most honest, insightful coaching conversations you’ll ever hear. From growing up in Yuba City as the son of a junior‑college coach, to learning the craft at UC Davis, to becoming the architect of Boise State’s legendary rise — Coach Petersen breaks down the real lessons behind leadership, teaching, ego, and building teams the right way.
Join the Celebration of College Football’s Greatest Legends — December 8, 2026
College football players are members of the greatest fraternity in the world. Check out the National Football Foundation’s ‘I Played’ roster and submit your story to join today!
Members who recently submitted their ‘I Played’ story:
Todd Brothers II, Youngstown State — Corrections Officer
Christopher Cola, Ole Miss — CFO, Detmar Logistics
Darrin Chiaverini, Colorado — Head coach, Northeastern State (OK)
Come see Florida State’s Peter Warrick on Dec. 8 at the
Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for his induction!
Peter Warrick emerged as one of the era's most dynamic playmakers while helping power one of the greatest runs in college football history with the Seminoles never finishing ranked lower than No. 3 during his run in Tallahassee. The Bradenton, Florida, native now becomes the 10th Florida State player inducted into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Be there with us as we induct Peter Warrick into the NFF College Hall of Fame on December 8 at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas!
Stay tuned for more news regarding the latest football participation numbers, schools adding college football, graduates playing college football and the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner!
October 21 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments/ NFF Campbell Trophy® Finalists
December 8 — 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino
December 8 — Announcement of the winner of the 37th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy®
December 8-9 — The SBJ Intercollegiate Athletics Forum at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
January 25, 2027 — CFP National Championship at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
Here are stories the NFF is reading this week as we gear up for another memorable college football season!
Many coaches neglect their health. After Shawn Clark’s death, his widow wants to change that
The Athletic
Here’s the most watched college football teams this season
Yahoo! Sports
These Minnesota college football rivals are 1.6 miles apart. After a win, they take a walk.
Minnesota Star Tribune
Bruce Bergey, who played collegiately at UCLA and professionally in the NFL, CFL and WFL, passed away Sept. 20. He was 80.
Frank Busch, a member of the National Football Foundation Southern Arizona Chapter and a legendary swimming coach at Arizona and Cincinnati, passed away Sept. 27. He was 75.
Bill Cahill, who played collegiately at Washington and intercepted nine passes in his Huskie career, passed away Sept. 25. He was 75.
Marcus Cisco, who played collegiately at Michigan State and played in the Rose Bowl with the Spartans before finishing his career at Toledo, passed away Sept. 24. He was 90.
Karl Finch, who played collegiately at Iowa, Modesto Junior College and Cal Poly Pomona and for one season with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL, passed away Sept. 15. He was 87.
William ‘Buck’ Godfrey, who coached Southwest DeKalb High School (GA) for 30 seasons and 270 victories, has passed away. He was 83.
Kirk Kennedy, who played collegiately at Louisville before spending his career coaching high school football in the state of Indiana, passed away Sept. 27. He was 63.
Ray Lamb, who won 249 games as a high school coach in Georgia before spending nearly two decades as the University of Georgia’s coordinator of high school relations, has passed away. He was 90.
Kenneth Mikes, who played collegiately at Purdue before serving in the United States Army Reserves, passed away Sept. 23. He was 90.
Zeke Moore, who played collegiately at Lincoln University (MO) before becoming a Pro Bowl cornerback with the Houston Oilers, passed away Sept. 22. He was 82.
Jaymar Mundy, who played collegiately at Miami (Ohio), Hutchinson Community College (KS), Western Kentucky and Ohio, has passed away. He was 23.
Jelani Newman, who played collegiately at San Jose State, has passed away. He was 25.
John Roady, who played collegiately at Rice and was a member of the Owl team that beat Alabama in the 1954 Cotton Bowl, passed away Sept. 8. He was 92.
Timothy Scannell, who played collegiately at Notre Dame before coaching at his alma mater, including during the Irish’s 1988 national championship, passed away Sept. 26. He was 62.
Arnold ‘Arnie’ Sgalio, who served as the Sports Information Director at Montana State before working for the Big Sky Conference office from 1979-1994, passed away Sept. 24. He was 72.
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