2/11: MacArthur Lands In Columbus, Ohio

Good morning, football fans! A special congratulations goes out to Hemet High School (CA), the 2025 recipient of the National Football Foundation’s Hatchell Cup, presented by Bob’s Steak & Chop House!

Read more about Hemet High School’s honor by clicking here.

MacArthur lands in Columbus, Ohio

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has a shiny showpiece to display in his office — the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame has sent the fabled MacArthur Bowl to The Ohio State University!

The name of the 2024 Buckeyes will now be etched alongside the greatest teams in college football history on the MacArthur Bowl Championship Trophy, marking the fifth time Ohio State has hit the milestone (1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 and now 2024). The trophy is housed at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta and has been presented since 1959.

CLICK HERE to read more about the history between the MacArthur Bowl and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Join us to celebrate all that is good in college football at one of the sport's grandest traditions — the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas — Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at the iconic Bellagio Hotel & Casino.

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.

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is set to gain a new name — after a transformational gift from Archie and Olivia Manning and their sons Cooper, Peyton and Eli, the hospital will be renamed the Manning Family Children’s Hospital.

Click here to read more about the Manning family’s dedication to improving the health and well-being of children and families, and their connections to the NFF throughout the years.

In the latest episode of the Good in the Game Podcast, LaVar Arrington chats with the newest member of the College Football Hall of Fame, coach Urban Meyer. Coach and LaVar discuss Meyer's coaching legacy, Ohio State playing in the national title game, how his coaching style helped shape young men and if he thinks Deion Sanders would be a good coach in the NFL.

2025 NFF High School Showcases

The NFF High School Showcases provide thousands of eligible high school football players an opportunity for academic and participation scholarships to play at the next level.

Launched by a group of Houston high school coaches in 2009, the concept expanded to Southern California in 2013. Florida joined in 2017 and Arizona in 2023. Other sites in the past have included Atlanta, Charlotte (NC) and Detroit. Collectively, the organizers anticipate the four events in 2024 will reach more than 1,200 seniors with an estimated one-in-four receiving some kind of financial aid to go to college.

UPCOMING SHOWCASES:

Feb. 14-15, 2025
The 9th Annual Orange Bowl Florida High School Football Showcase, Presented by Baptist Health, will take place at St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Feb. 15, 2025
The Third Annual Arizona Senior Showcase will be held 15 at Ottawa University in Surprise, Arizona.

Feb. 22, 2025
The 12th Annual Terry Donahue Memorial California Showcase will take place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California.

CLICK HERE to read more about the impact of the NFF High School Showcases!

Every Colorado high school football player will be wearing the latest technology in helmets this coming season, thanks to the Denver Broncos — the organization is donating more than 15,000 Riddell Axiom football helmets to every high school program in the state.

📰: Denver Broncos to provide helmets for every Colorado high school
^ESPN

NFF Hall of Fame coach Jim Tressel (Youngstown State, Ohio State) is diving into a new version of leadership — Ohio governor Mike DeWine has picked Tressel to serve as his lieutenant governor.

📰: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine picks former OSU coach Jim Tressel to serve as Lt. governor
^{The Columbus Dispatch}

Dick Jauron, the 2015 College Football Hall of Fame who starred as running back at Yale from 1970-72, passed away Feb. 8. He was 74.

A three-time First Team All-Ivy selection, Jauron led the Bulldogs in rushing all three seasons, amassing 2,947-career yards, which remained a school record until 2000. Named the team's MVP in 1972, his standout senior year included First Team All-American recognition and winning the Asa S. Bushnell Cup as the league's Player of the Year.

Click here to read more about the legacy of Dick Jauron.

Howard Twilley, the 1992 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who starred at wide receiver for Tulsa from 1963-65, passed away Feb. 5. He was 81.
 
Twilley led the nation in three pass receiving categories in 1964: touchdowns (13), passes caught (95), and yards gained on receptions (1,178). He repeated in 1965, and his figures were higher: touchdowns (16), passes caught (134), and receiving yards (1,779), which all set NCAA records at the time and made him the first player in college football history to eclipse the 100-reception mark in a season. He averaged 13.4 receptions per game in 1965, which still remains the best in FBS history. His performance in 1965 landed him unanimous All-America honors, and he finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up.

Click here to read more about the legacy of Howard Twilley.

Virginia Halas McCaskey, the matriarch of the Chicago Bears and daughter of George Halas, the founder of the NFL, has passed away. She was 102.

Johnny Williams, a Troy University Sports Hall of Fame member and who served as Athletics Director at the school from 1994-2004, has passed away. He was 68.

Gary Tucker, who played collegiately at Vanderbilt and Chattanooga before spending one season with the Miami Dolphins, has passed away. He was 79.

2025 NFF Hall of Fame Inductee Nick Saban spent one season at Toledo, as a 38-year-old head coach in 1990.

It was a memorable year for everyone in the Rockets’ program.

📰: Who’s the boss? At Toledo in 1990, it was 38-year-old Nick Saban
^ESPN

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