Good in the Game 12/30

Good morning, football fans! And happy (early) New Year to you! This past year was full of good news in the game of football — here’s to hoping 2025 will be even better!

Let’s look back at some of the highlights from the year that was with the National Football Foundation!

JANUARY 8, 2024 — The NFF announced the star-studded 2024 College Hall of Fame Class. Read that announcement here.

JANUARY 14, 2024 — The NFF traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich. to present the Michigan Wolverines with the historic MacArthur Bowl Trophy. Read that announcement here.

FEBRUARY 6, 2024 — Cathedral High School (Ind.) is announced as the 2024 recipient of the NFF Hatchell Cup. Read that announcement here.

MARCH 26, 2024 — The NFF launched the inaugural Leadership & Entrepreneurial Academy and GSV Boot Camp. Read that announcement here.

APRIL 29, 2024 — Oregon’s Bo Nix leads a record-setting number of NFF Scholar-Athletes in the NFL Draft. Read that announcement here.

MAY 30, 2024 — The NFF announced the ballot for the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame. Read that announcement here.

JUNE 18, 2024 — The NFF recognized the 84 members of the 2024 Team of Distinction. Read that announcement here.

JULY 25-27, 2024 — The NFF hosted the seventh annual William V. Campbell Trophy Summit at Stanford University in California. Read that announcement here.

AUGUST 13, 2024 — The NFF officially launched its ‘I Played’ campaign, highlighting the enduring values of football. Read that announcement here.

AUGUST 25, 2024 — The NFF celebrated the record-breaking 3,568 graduates playing college football across the country. Read that announcement here.

AUGUST 29 — November 30 2024 — The NFF began its On-Campus Salute journey, honoring Utah’s Alex Smith at the Utes’ August 29 home game versus Southern Utah. See the entire list of On-Campus Salutes here.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024 — The NFF announced a record-breaking 204 semifinalist for the 2024 Campbell Trophy. Read that announcement here.

OCTOBER 9, 2024 — The late Buddy Teevens was named the 2024 recipient of the NFF’s Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football Award. Read that announcement here.

OCTOBER 15, 2024 — The NFF’s Good in the Game Podcast debuts its first episode with host LaVar Arrington and guest Archie Griffin. Read that announcement here.

NOVEMBER 14, 2024 — The NFF recognized the 2024 Faculty Athletics Representative honorees. Read that announcement here.

DECEMBER 10, 2024 — Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is named the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy winner. Read that announcement here.

DECEMBER 10, 2024 — The 2024 NFF College Hall of Fame class and the 2024 NFF Scholar-Athlete class are honored at the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas. Read that announcement here.

Multiple NFF College Hall of Fame members highlight this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist list!

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced 15 modern-era finalists for induction in 2025, including College Football Hall of Fame inductees Tory Holt (NC State) and Luke Kuechly (Boston College). There are currently 156 individuals who have been inducted into both the college and pro halls of fame. NFF National Scholar-Athlete & Campbell Trophy Finalist Eli Manning (Ole Miss) also made the list of finalists this year.

Two Penn State legends sat down on the latest Good in the Game Podcast as LaVar Arrington and Todd Blackledge chatted about how the game of football has helped shape their lives, the College Football Playoff, Penn State in the 80s and being coached by Joe Paterno.

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.

Feb. 1, 2025
The 17th Annual Houston Texans Senior Showcase powered by Gatorade will take place at the Texans Methodist Training Center next door to NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

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.

Alex Kroll, a 1997 College Football Hall of Fame inductee who starred at Rutgers from 1960-61 while also earning academic accolades as an NFF National Scholar-Athlete, passed away Dec. 17 in Charlotte, Vermont. He was 87.

Bill Bergey, an All-American at Arkansas State in the 1960s and later an All-Pro player with the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, has passed away. He was 79.

Greg Gumbel, who made history as the first African-American announcer to call play-by-play of a major sports championship in the United States when he announced Super Bowl XXXV for CBS in 2001 among other outstanding achievements, has passed away. He was 78.

The NFF remembers those who passed away in 2024 and played a role in improving the game of college football for future generations. This video was played during the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on December 10, 2024, and honors those who passed from Dec. 7, 2023 – Dec. 5, 2024.

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