10/28: Let's Highlight The Campbell Finalists!

October 28, 2025

Good morning, football fans! The 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame shirts are now available — get yours here!

In case you missed it last week, the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced the finalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award that annually recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.

The 16 finalists were selected from an impressive 180 semifinalists nationwide from among all NCAA divisions and the NAIA.

  • Robby Ballentine, WR – DePauw (IN) // Biochemistry (3.92 GPA)

  • Jonah Coleman, RB – Washington // Education (3.91 GPA)

  • James Conway, LB – Fordham // Marketing Information Systems (3.71 GPA)

  • Jalon Daniels, QB – Kansas // Sport Management (3.58 GPA)

  • Ty Dugger, DB – Harding (AR) // Accounting (3.92 GPA)

  • Aaron Graves, DL – Iowa // Exercise Science (4.03 GPA)

  • Blake Horvath, QB – Navy // Operations Research (3.69 GPA)

  • Chandler Kirton, OL – Austin Peay // Management (3.92 GPA)

  • Trey Moore, LB – Texas // Physical Culture & Sports (3.65 GPA)

  • Red Murdock, LB – Buffalo // Psychology (3.46 GPA)

  • Parker Navarro, QB – Ohio // Integrated Health Studies (3.96 GPA)

  • Sawyer Robertson, QB – Baylor // Marketing (3.73 GPA)

  • Eli Stowers, TE – Vanderbilt // Individual Studies (3.92 GPA)

  • Jack Strand, QB – Minnesota State Moorhead // Engineering Physics (3.87 GPA)

  • Andon Thomas, LB – Army West Point // Chemical Engineering (3.98 GPA) 

  • Jackson Waring, QB – Grand View (IA) // Psychology (3.88 GPA)

🏈 CLICK HERE to learn more about this year’s 16 William V. Campbell Trophy finalists.

The National Football Foundation Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes Presented by Fidelity Investments — A Hallowed Tradition Stretching Back to 1951!

. . .

Graham Harrell — quarterback, Texas Tech

Terrence Metcalf — offensive line, Ole Miss

Terrence Metcalf always kept Hugh Nall's advice close to heart.

"No matter who people are, you always treat people right," Metcalf said of his offensive line coach at Ole Miss. "And that was his code. He didn't care if you were poor, rich, Black, White, Chinese. His whole thing is treat people right. If he ever felt like you were being disrespectful in any kind of way, you were going to hear about that. And so, I love that. Football led me to men who could show me a different way. And so, for that, I'm grateful for the game."

Those words guided Metcalf as he began his college football career with the Rebels. They guided him when he was drafted by the Chicago Bears. And they have absolutely guided him as a parent. Metcalf is the latest Ole Miss player to make the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, becoming the 10th former Rebels player to make the Hall, and the first since Patrick Willis in 2019.

🏈 CLICK HERE to read Terrence Metcalf’s 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Spotlight

Steve Slaton — running back, West Virginia

Steve Slaton may have been an electric running back who helped usher in a new wave of modern football, but it wasn't until he heard his name called at the NFL Draft after a legendary career with the Mountaineers in Morgantown that he truly realized just how far his skills could take him.

"If you love something enough and you do it enough, you always think you have a chance," Slaton said. "Being drafted is when it cemented me to having a feeling that this would be something that changed my life - not just my life, but my family's life."

🏈 CLICK HERE to read Steve Slaton’s 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Spotlight

Last week's top 10 teams in the FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll remain the same after going a combined 8-0 in Week 9, while Tennessee and Virginia join — check out the full poll below!

In the latest episode of the Good in the Game Podcast, host LaVar Arrington sits down with former Ohio State Buckeye first round pick and current Arizona Cardinal Paris Johnson to discuss his journey to the NFL, earning his spot at OSU and how his faith has helped him on and off the football field.

Join us to celebrate college football legends at one of the sport's grandest traditions!

The highlight of the Awards Dinner will be the induction of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class, where 18 legendary players and four acclaimed coaches take their place amongst the greatest of all time. The inductees proudly represent every region of the country, 28 collegiate institutions, 11 conferences, and seven decades.

Nick Mangold, an All-American center at Ohio State and seven-time Pro Bowler for the New York Jets, has passed away. He was 41.

Kurt Hester, the University of Houston’s Director of Strength and Performance, has passed away. He was 61.

C. Patrick Killen, who played collegiately at Clemson and won the 1959 Bluebonnet Bowl with the Tigers, has passed away. He was 86.

James Mikacich, who played at Notre Dame and graduated from the school in 1962, has passed away. He was 85.

Jerry Stalcup, a standout football player for Rockford East and the University of Wisconsin before going on to coach at East, Harlem, Orangeville and Dakota, recently passed away at 86.

Ross Turner, who played both varsity football and rugby at Brigham Young University in the 1960s, has passed away. He was 79.

Bennie Arp, who played for two seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Middle Tennessee State where he starred at linebacker, has passed away. He was 79.

George Atkinson, who played collegiately at Morris Brown College before being named the co-Defensive Rookie of the Year in the AFL in 1968, has passed away. He was 78.

Name: Brock Huard
College: Washington
Occupation: Fox Sports Commentator

Share your football story with us! We want to know what football means to you, the lessons you learned, and the opportunities it provided.

December 9 — 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino

December 9 — Announcement of the winner of the 36th NFF William V. Campbell Trophy® during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas

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

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