12/30: The NFF Looks Back On 2025!

December 30, 2025

Good morning, football fans! Just like that, 2025 is in the books! There is still football to be played and more memories to make, but for now, let’s look back on another great year with the National Football Foundation!

The year began with the NFF announcing the star-studded College Football Hall of Fame Class on January 15, with 18 players and four coaches earning college football immortality for their work in the game.

The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class is tentatively set to be announced the week of January 14, 2026.

On January 29, the NFF announced 65 state winners of the 2024-25 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards, Presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, and on February 4 named Hemet High School (Calif.) as the 2025 recipient of the NFF Hatchell Cup, Presented by Bob’s Steak & Chop House!

The 2025-26 NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards are set to be announced on January 29, 2026.

An elite group of 2,536 players from 341 colleges and universities were honored on April 16 as members of the NFF Hampshire Honor Society — a record number of members!

The 2026 NFF Hampshire Honor Society is tentatively set to be announced on April 15, 2026.

An impressive 45 NFF honorees heard their names called at the 2025 NFL Draft, which took place April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin!

The NFF announced in May that the PSA for its I Played campaign was named a finalist in two categories — Outstanding In-Venue Video and Outstanding Social Media Video — for the 2025 College Sports Media Awards.

On June 2, the NFF announced the names of 79 players and nine coaches from the FBS and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks who are under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame as members of the 2026 class.

The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot is tentatively set to be released on June 1, 2026.

The Seventh Annual William V. Campbell Trophy Summit took place July 24-26 at Stanford University in California, serving as vehicle for perpetuating the ethos that helped Bill Campbell, the trophy's namesake, become one of the most influential business leaders of his generation.

The 2026 William V. Campbell Trophy Summit is tentatively set for for July 23-25, 2026.

On the doorstep of the 2025 college football season on August 12, the NFF celebrated the continued growth of the game with four schools kicking off inaugural campaigns, with nine to follow in subsequent years.

On August 20, the NFF announced the schedule for the 2025 NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, officially kicking off one of the best traditions of the fall across college football.

The 2026 NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute schedule is tentatively set to be released on August 19, 2026.

The NFF announced on September 3 that a record-breaking 3,695 graduates would suit up to play college football in the fall, underscoring the game's commitment to academic achievement and reinforcing the belief that football develops leaders.

On September 24, the NFF announced the remarkable list of 180 semifinalists for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, and a month later on October 22 announced the 16 finalists for college football’s premier scholar-athlete award.

The 2026 Campbell Trophy semifinalists are tentatively set to be announced on September 23, 2026 and the finalists on October 21, 2026.

The Bellagio Resort & Casino played host to an all-star cast of history's greatest football legends and the sport's most promising student-athletes during tonight's 67th National Football Foundation (NFF) Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 9!

More than 1,800 people attended, and countless more watched on ESPN+ as the star-studded 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class received college football's ultimate honor. The NFF also honored 16 of the game's top student-athletes, who collected postgraduate scholarships as members of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. More than 50 previous NFF Hall of Fame inductees returned, and 125 colleges and universities sent representatives to attend the fabled affair.

The 2026 NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas is set for December 8, 2026.

Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers was named the 36th recipient of the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy on December 9, earning the honor among an impressive list of 16 members of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class presented by Fidelity Investments.

Stowers graduated from New Mexico State in May 2024 as a Crimson Scholar (3.92 GPA) before earning his master's degree in finance from Vanderbilt in May 2025. He is continuing postgraduate studies in legal studies at Vanderbilt and has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and Dean's List three times.

Launched in 1959 and celebrating its 67th year in 2025, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete program became the first initiative in history to award postgraduate scholarships based on a player's combined academic, athletic and leadership accomplishments, and the program has awarded $13.2 million to 954 top athletes since its inception.

The National Football Foundation remembers those who passed away in 2025 and played a role in improving the game of college football for future generations.

. . .

Rich McGeorge, a 2012 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee who played tight end at Elon from 1966 to 1969, passed away Dec. 20. He was 77.

For the 1960s, Rich McGeorge was a very different tight end. In an era where tight ends were primary blockers, McGeorge was the main target for the Elon passing offense. 

As Elon's first player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, McGeorge rewrote the school's receiving records book by setting school career records in receptions (224), yards (3,486) and touchdowns (31). 

Click here to read more about the life and legacy of Rich McGeorge.

Gerald Gusler, who played collegiately at Rice from 1957-58, has passed away. He was 88.

John Matt, who played collegiately at Texas A&M, has passed away. He was 55.

Joe Buggs, who played collegiately at Elizabeth City State University and later coached at North Carolina A&T, Norfolk State and Hampton, has passed away. He was 88.

Larry O’Hara, who played collegiately at Pratt Community College and Kansas State, has passed away. He was 85.

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!

. . .

“I’m coaching high school football. I had the opportunity and the blessing to live my dreams, so to be around them and help them do the same thing, it’s exciting to me. Many of the kids are in the situation that if they don’t have football, opportunities aren’t as great. Last week, the high school that I coach at had eight kids sign to Division I scholarships. That’s always great.”

— Darrin Smith, 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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