The National Football Foundation released the official 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot on Monday. Of the 79 players on the ballot, two are Penn State icons and former No. 1 overall draft picks in running back Ki-Jana Carter and defensive end Courtney Brown.

To be eligible for consideration, an athlete must be ten years removed from intercollegiate athletics and have received a First-Team All-American recognition from an NCAA-recognized selector.

Carter, who spent three years with the Nittany Lions from 1992-94, broke out in a big way during Penn State’s undefeated 1994 season, rushing for 1,539 yards and 23 touchdowns on an FBS-leading 7.8 yards per carry. He finished second in Heisman Trophy voting to Colorado’s Rashaan Salaam, but was named a consensus All-American. He became the program’s first No. 1 overall pick in 1995 when he was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. Over seven professional seasons with the Bengals, Washington Redskins, and New Orleans Saints, he rushed for 1,114 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Brown, who spent 1996-99 with the Nittany Lions, was a unanimous First-Team All-American in 1999, while also being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He is Penn State’s all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss, as well as a two-time First-Team All-Big Ten honoree. He became the program’s second, and to date last, first overall selection in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played six seasons in the NFL with the Browns and Denver Broncos, recording 19 career sacks and 196 tackles.

Members of the NFF can cast ballots, which close on July 1. The reveal of the final class of 2026 is likely to occur in January, similar to the 2025 class.

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Michael Zeno

Michael is a junior from Eastampton, NJ, majoring in international politics. He's a diehard Knicks, Yankees, Rangers, and Giants fan. When he's not watching old OBJ highlights, he likes to bowl and play pickup basketball. He'll forever believe that Michael Penix Jr. was short. You can contact him at @MichaelZeno24 on Twitter or zenomanknows@gmail.com

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