2 from Alabama, 2 from Auburn on College Football Hall of Fame ballot
The Class of 2027 nominees include 14 players and four coaches from the SEC.
Olivia Bennett 
The College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027 ballot is out, and the SEC is well-represented with 14 standout former players and coaches competing for induction. Among the notable nominees are Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones and Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.
Newton returns for his second straight appearance on the ballot. He stands as one of only two eligible SEC Heisman Trophy winners who have yet to be enshrined. While the conference has produced 16 Heisman winners, nine are currently in the Hall of Fame, five remain ineligible, and Texas A&M’s 2012 winner Johnny Manziel is the only eligible winner who has not yet appeared on a ballot.
Alabama and Auburn Standouts
Barrett Jones is enjoying his first appearance on the ballot in his fourth year of eligibility, capping a career that saw him become one of the most decorated players in Alabama history. He is joined by fellow Crimson Tide star and linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who is making his second consecutive ballot appearance.
Representing Auburn alongside Newton is offensive guard Ed King. King makes his return to the ballot after previously being considered for the Class of 2025.
Coaching Contenders
Four SEC-affiliated coaches appear on the 2027 ballot: Dennis Franchione, Mike Leach, Jackie Sherrill, and Tommy Tuberville. Changes to qualifying criteria—specifically lowering the minimum winning percentage to .595—allowed both Leach and Sherrill to debut on the ballot this year.
Tuberville is making his fourth consecutive appearance, while Franchione returns for his second. The group includes leaders with storied tenures at schools like Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State.
SEC Representation
The SEC contingent is part of a broader field of 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA FBS level vying for a spot in the Class of 2027. Fans can view the full ballot here.
The conference continues to build on its legacy; following the induction of Georgia’s Garrison Hearst and Alabama’s Mark Ingram in the Class of 2026, the SEC now boasts 109 former players in the College Football Hall of Fame.
For more ongoing coverage of the conference, check out the 205focus SEC page.
