The College Football Hall of Fame will be welcoming nearly two dozen new members to its hallowed club, a group that includes some of the biggest names in the sport’s history.
Legendary coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, as well as former Virginia Tech star quarterback and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Michael Vick, headline a group of 22 people who will be inducted into the Atlanta-based hall as part of its 2025 class.
The 18 players and four coaches who were selected for enshrinement will officially be inducted at a Dec. 9 event in Las Vegas.
Other notable inductees from the class include Michael Strahan, a former defensive lineman at Texas Southern and NFL All-Pro who’s best known now for his work as a broadcaster; former West Virginia running back Steve Slaton, who formed an iconic backfield with quarterback Pat White; former Wisconsin running back Montee Ball, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2011; and former Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who was a five-time Pro Bowler in the NFL.
Saban’s impending induction comes only 12 months after his retirement from Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to six national championships in his 17 seasons there. Prior to that, he had been a head coach at Toledo, Michigan State and LSU, the last of which he guided to a national title in 2003.
Now a college football analyst for ESPN, Saban was informed of his induction by his “College GameDay” colleagues prior to Ohio State’s matchup against Texas in the Cotton Bowl last Friday.
Some of Saban’s stiffest competition within the SEC during his dynastic run came from Meyer, who helped Florida win national championships in 2006 and 2008 and later led Ohio State to a title in 2014. Meyer, who hasn’t coached in college since 2018, has a career record of 187-32. He and Saban are two of only 14 coaches in FBS history with at least three national championships.
Before he helped redefine the way the quarterback position was played in the NFL, Vick took Virginia Tech to its first and only national championship game as a redshirt freshman in 1999. That season, he finished third in Heisman voting. Vick, who served 21 months in federal prison for his role in a dog-fighting ring, was named the head coach at Norfolk State in December.
According to College Football Hall of Fame rules, coaches are eligible for induction three seasons after their retirement or immediately upon retirement if they are at least 70 years old. Saban is 73 and retired two days after the National Football Foundation announced the 2024 hall of fame class.
In order for a player to gain entry into the hall of fame, they must be at least 10 seasons removed from their final college game and have earned All-America recognition from an NCAA-sanctioned selector.
College Football Hall of Fame 2025 class
With Saban, Meyer and Vick leading the way, here’s a look at the entirety of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class, listed in alphabetical order:
Players
Montee Ball, Wisconsin RB (2009-12)
Gregg Carr, Auburn LB (1981-84)
Blake Elliott, Saint John’s University (Minnesota) WR (2000-03)
Greg Eslinger, Minnesota C (2002-05)
Terry Hanratty, Notre Dame QB (1966-68)
Graham Harrell, Texas Tech QB (2005-08)
John Henderson, Tennessee DT (1999-2001)
Michael Huff, Texas DB (2002-05)
Jim Kleinsasser, North Dakota TE (1995-98)
Alex Mack, Cal OL (2005-08)
Terrence Metcalf, Ole Miss OL (1997, 1999-2001)
Haloti Ngata, Oregon DT (2002, 2004-05)
Steve Slaton, West Virginia RB (2005-07)
Darrin Smith, Miami LB (1989-92)
Michael Strahan, Texas Southern DL (1989-92)
Dennis Thurman, USC DB (1974-77)
Michael Vick, Virginia Tech QB (1999-2000)
Ryan Yarborough, Wyoming WR (1990-93)
Coaches
Larry Blakeney, Troy (1991-2014)
Larry Korver, Northwestern College (Iowa) (1967-94)
Urban Meyer, Bowling Green (2001-02); Utah (2003-04); Florida (2005-10); Ohio State (2012-18)
Nick Saban, Toledo (1990); Michigan State (1995-99); LSU (2000-04); Alabama (2007-23)
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