Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice on College Football Hall of Fame ballot

Patrick Pierson Director of Football Branding and Creative Media | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website

By Chambana Sun

Jun 2, 2025

The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame have released the 2026 ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Among those nominated are former Fighting Illini players Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice. This year's ballot includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, along with 100 players and 35 coaches from divisional ranks.

Currently, eighteen former Illini members are enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. The most recent inductees include linebacker Dana Howard in 2018 and defensive tackle Moe Gardner in 2022. They joined a group of notable Fighting Illini, such as Red Grange, inducted in 1951, and Dick Butkus, inducted in 1983.

Kevin Hardy's achievements include winning the Butkus Award in 1995 and being a consensus First Team All-American with impressive statistics: 105 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, and three interceptions. He was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection who contributed to two bowl berths for Illinois. As team captain, he started 45 games—second all-time among Illini linebackers—and ranks fifth all-time at Illinois in sacks (18) and eighth in tackles for loss (38). Hardy was selected by Jacksonville as the No. 2 pick in the 1996 NFL draft.

Simeon Rice is noted for being a two-time First Team All-American and a three-time First Team All-Big Ten selection. He holds both conference and school records for career sacks (44.5) and an Illini record for career tackles for loss (69). Rice also set a school record for single-season sacks with 16. He was chosen by Arizona as the No. 3 pick in the same draft year as Hardy.

The list of current Illini members in the College Football Hall of Fame includes:

- Alex Agase, G (inducted 1963)

- Bob Blackman, coach (inducted 1987)

- Al Brosky, DB (inducted 1998)

- Dick Butkus, LB (inducted 1983)

- Chuck Carney, WR (inducted 1966)

- J.C. Caroline, RB (inducted 1980)

- Pete Elliot, coach (inducted 1993)

- Moe Gardner, DT (inducted 2022)

- Jim Grabowski, RB (inducted 1995)

- Harold "Red" Grange, RB (inducted 1951)

- Edward K. Hall, coach (inducted 1951)