The National Football Foundation announced that 80 FBS standouts have been placed on the ballot for the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class, among them two Ohio State icons: Cris Carter and A.J. Hawk. Their inclusion underscores the enduring impact of Buckeye alumni on the national stage.
Cris Carter’s Trailblazing Career
Cris Carter arrived in Columbus as a freshman phenom, shattering receiving records and earning consensus All‑American honors in 1986. Over his collegiate tenure he collected two first‑team All‑Big Ten selections and forged a path to the NFL, where he amassed eight Pro Bowl appearances and three first‑team All‑Pro nods. The Minnesota Vikings honored his contributions by retiring his No. 80 jersey in 2003, and he was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
A.J. Hawk’s Buckeye legacy is equally compelling. A pivotal member of the 2002 national championship squad, Hawk earned first‑team All‑Big Ten honors three times and was recognized as a consensus All‑American in 2004 and a unanimous All‑American in 2005. His senior season garnered the Lombardi Award and the Jack Lambert Trophy, and he entered the NFL as the fifth overall pick in 2006. After an 11‑year professional career, highlighted by a Super Bowl XLV victory with the Green Bay Packers and a franchise‑record 947 tackles, Hawk retired with a reputation as one of the most durable linebackers of his era.
The Path to the 2027 Induction
Selection of the 2027 class will be decided by more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers, who will cast their votes before July 1. The vote will be overseen by the NFF Honors Court, chaired by Ohio State legend Archie Griffin, the only two‑time Heisman Trophy winner. The announcement is slated for early next year, a timeline that adds anticipation to the upcoming revelations.
Ohio State’s presence in the Hall of Fame extends beyond Carter and Hawk. The university boasts 29 player inductees and eight coaches, a testament to its sustained excellence. Recent entrants include linebacker James Laurinaitis (2026) and former head coach Urban Meyer (2025), illustrating a pipeline that continues to feed the Hall with distinguished talent.