The National Football Foundation announced the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot this week, and among the 80 FBS players under consideration are two names that should be very familiar to Notre Dame fans: Luther Bradley and Manti Te’o.
Considering that more than 5.8 million people have played college football since the first intercollegiate game was played in 1869, being named to the ballot alone is a remarkable achievement. To date, only 1,129 players have earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame—less than two one-hundredths of one percent of all who have played the game.
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For Notre Dame fans, this year’s ballot provides an opportunity to reflect on two players who left their mark on Irish football in very different eras.
Luther Bradley: A Ball-Hawking Champion
Long before Notre Dame fans were debating playoff rankings and NIL deals, Luther Bradley was helping lead the Irish to a national championship.
A consensus First Team All-American in 1977, Bradley was a key member of Notre Dame’s national title team under Dan Devine. He later earned recognition as the nation’s top defensive back in 1978 and still holds Notre Dame records for career interceptions (17) and interception return yards in a game (103 against Purdue in 1975).
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Nearly five decades later, Bradley remains one of the most accomplished defensive backs in program history.
Manti Te’o: One of the Greatest Defensive Seasons Ever
Few players in modern college football have produced a season quite like Manti Te’o’s 2012 campaign.
Te’o became the first player in college football history to sweep the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi, and Nagurski Awards in the same season. He also became the first exclusively defensive player to finish in the top two of Heisman Trophy voting since 1980.
Most importantly for Notre Dame fans, Te’o helped lead the Irish to their first national championship game appearance since 1988.
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His impact extended beyond the football field as well. Te’o was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete in 2012, making him one of only a select group of players who have combined elite athletic achievement with academic excellence.
A Ballot Filled with Stars
This year’s ballot includes an impressive collection of college football legends from across the country.
Among the notable first-time and returning candidates are:
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Tony Gonzalez (California)
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Craig Heyward (Pittsburgh)
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Ryan Leaf (Washington State)
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Antwaan Randle El (Indiana)
Together, the nominees represent multiple generations of college football greatness, from national champions and Heisman Trophy winners to record-setting performers who helped define their eras.
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The Road to the Hall
The ballot will now be considered by more than 12,000 National Football Foundation members and current Hall of Famers before advancing to the NFF Honors Court for final consideration.
The 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced in early 2027, with the official induction taking place during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner.
For Notre Dame fans, the hope is simple: that two Irish greats from two very different generations will soon take their place among college football’s immortals.
And if history is any indication, both have compelling cases for inclusion.
Cheers & GO IRISH!
