That Nebraska football legend Ndamukong Suh is not already in the College Football Hall of Fame is surprising. After all, his college playing days have been over long enough that such an induction is a no-brainer.
This year, Suh will finally, officially have a chance to become a College Hall of Famer. There may not be a slam dunk on the ballot, the way the man who should have won a Heisman for the Huskers is. Now that he’s officially a candidate, it’s hard to envision someone who will be an automatic vote getter.
Ndamukong Suh tops 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot after long wait
The legendary Nebraska football defensive tackle was officially named one of 2026’s NFF College Football Hall of Fame candidates. The ballot was formally unveiled on Monday, but the inductees will be announced in early 2026.
“2009 unanimous First Team All-American and winner of the Bednarik, Lombardi, Nagurski and Outland trophies…” the official capsule for Suh read. “2009 AP College Player of the Year became the first defensive lineman in 15 seasons to be named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy (4th in 2009)…2009 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year tied the Nebraska record for single-game TFL (7 vs. Texas) in the 2009 Big 12 title game.”
The induction process is not remotely straightforward, which makes Suh's getting in just a little more of a question mark than it should be. The NFF will tally the votes of more than 12,000 members and current NFF Hall of Famers and then submit them to the NFF's Honors Court.
This group will approve and select the Hall of Famers. Certainly, if someone like the former Nebraska great gets an overwhelming number of votes, it will help, but even if he gets a vote from every single member, his induction isn’t guaranteed until the Honors Court says so.
Some Nebraska football fans might remember Ndamukong Suh’s Heisman snub and wonder if he might get the short end of the stick once again. However, even if the Husker legend isn’t among the top vote-getters, he’ll have his name called early next year.