Every week, the National Football Foundation highlights the people, stories and moments that demonstrate football's impact beyond the field.
College Football is Back!
College football is back for its 157th season!!!!
Week Zero kicks off with history being made across the game as Andrew College (GA), Monroe University (NY) and Chicago State will take the field as new four-year football programs, while North Dakota State and Sacramento State each play their first games at the FBS level.
In Dublin, TCU and North Carolina will compete in the fifth consecutive Aer Lingus College Football Classic, the first international game for both programs, with more than 14,000 U.S. fans expected to make the trip. In Las Vegas, home of the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, UNLV and Memphis will close out the opening weekend.
The season also begins with NFF 2026 College Football Hall of Fame electee Gary Patterson making his USC debut as defensive coordinator and with new rules involving targeting, replay, technology and player safety, including the introduction of the fair catch kick.
The wait is over! Welcome back, college football!
NFF Updates gathers news from events happening within the National Football Foundation and celebrates individuals who have been honored by the organization.
R.C. Slocum, a 2012 NFF College Football Hall of Fame inductee and the all-time winningest head football coach in Texas A&M history, will be honored Friday, Sept. 4, with the unveiling of a statue outside the north end of Kyle Field. Click here for more information.
The United States Air Force Academy will dedicate a bronze statue honoring NFF College Football Hall of Fame coach Fisher DeBerry on Sept. 11 at Falcon Stadium. The statue is part of the newly established $2.5 million Fisher DeBerry Football Excellence Endowment, funded through the U.S. Air Force Academy Association & Foundation. DeBerry served as head coach at Air Force for 23 years, leading 17 of his 23 teams to winning seasons and compiling an overall record of 169-109-1, the best in Academy history. Twelve of his teams earned bowl bids, posting a 6-6 record. Click here for more information.
Loran Smith, executive director of the NFF University of Georgia Chapter, added another impressive achievement to his long list of accomplishments Aug. 22 when he was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. Smith originated the first live football coaches' locker room radio show following Georgia football games in the 1970s, and he became the Bulldogs' first sideline announcer in 1974. He continues to co-host the Georgia Radio Network's pregame Tailgate Show, which he originated in 1984. Smith also continues to lead the NFF chapter in Athens, which boasts the largest membership in the nation. Click here for more information.
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:
Herbert Glass, Albany — COO, Poulin Willey Anastopoulo
Tavaris Jeffries, Oklahoma — High school football coach/sports trainer
Darrin Chiaverini, Colorado — Head coach, Northeastern State University (OK)
“Football took a kid from Corona, California to the heights of college and professional football. It taught me about the power of teamwork and trusting the man next to you. I will always cherish my time at the University of Colorado and in the NFL. The things I learned playing the game have helped me develop the next generation of college football players as a coach!”
— Darrin Chiaverini
Come see Alabama’s Mark Ingram on Dec. 8 at the
Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for his induction!
A powerful, downhill runner, Mark Ingram anchored an Alabama team that produced one of the most dominant eras in college football history, including a national title in 2009. The Flint, Michigan, native now becomes the 22nd Crimson Tide player to enter the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Ingram authored a historic sophomore season in 2009, becoming the first Heisman Trophy winner in Alabama football history. He earned unanimous First Team All-America honors and was named the Sporting News Player of the Year after leading the Tide to a perfect 14-0 record and the BCS National Championship.
Be there with us as we induct Mark Ingram 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!
September 23 — Announcement of the 2026 NFF Campbell Trophy® Semifinalists
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!
Cowboys rookie Shiyazh Pete earns rave reviews after locker room speech
USA Today
North Dakota State has won at a record rate at the lower levels. The Bison are rumbling into the FBS
Associated Press
Rebuilt Pac-12 is already paying off for members
Sports Business Journal
Color rush: Alabama, Tennessee to both wear home uniforms for October showdown
The Athletic
Jim Carter, who played collegiately at San Jose State and earned All-American status with the Spartans as an offensive guard, has passed away.
Paul Darragh, the former head coach at Bloomsburg (PA) for seven seasons after serving as the program’s defensive coordinator for 16 years, passed away August 19. He was 64.
Frank Gansz Jr., who played collegiately at The Citadel and coached at Houston, UCLA, SMU, Army, Pittsburgh and Kansas, has passed away. He was 64.
Barry Pearson, who played collegiately at Northwestern and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors twice before playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, passed away August 16. He was 76.
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