Two former Notre Dame standouts have earned spots on the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, reigniting memories of a program that has produced some of the sport’s most iconic defenders.
Manti Te’o, the celebrated linebacker who dominated the early 2010s, is listed among the candidates after a career that featured six major national awards in a single season — the Maxwell, Walter Camp, Chuck Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi and Nagurski trophies — and a second‑place finish in Heisman voting in 2012.
Joining him is Luther Bradley, a defensive back whose 1977 First‑Team All‑American honors helped steer the Irish to a national championship; Bradley still holds the school’s career interception record with 17 picks.
Voting Underway Until July 1
The Hall of Fame’s electorate will cast their final ballots by July 1, after which the inductees will be announced at a later ceremony, underscoring the enduring impact of these alumni on the Fighting Irish legacy.
Their inclusion reflects a broader narrative of Notre Dame’s defensive excellence, a thread that weaves through decades of college football history and continues to inspire current players who watch the program’s storied past with reverence.