Oregon running back legends Kenjon Barner and Jonathan Stewart made the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 2026, released on Monday.
LaMichael James was inducted last year.
A total of 79 college football stars and nine coaches were chosen. To be eligible, a player has to be 10 years removed from his last college game and must be a First Team All-American from one of the recognized All-America teams.
A coach has to be retired for at least three full seasons with a winning percentage of at least 59.5%, Coaches have to have coached a minimum of 100 games.
If a coach is over 70, there is no waiting period. If he's over 75 and still active, he can be admitted as an active coach.
Here's what the Hall said about each of the Oregon nominees:
Kenjon Barner, Oregon-Running Back-2012 consensus First Team All-American and finalist for the Doak Walker Award…First Team All-Pac-12 selection helped Ducks to four BCS berths, including a 2011 BCS National Championship appearance…Ranks third in Oregon history in career AP yards (5,848) and rushing TDs.
Jonathan Stewart, Oregon-Running Back - 2007 First Team All-American and the Ducks' all-time leader in single-season all-purpose yards (2,481 in 2007)…Helped Oregon to three bowl games, earning 2007 Sun Bowl MVP honors after posting a game-record 253 yards in the Ducks' victory…Three-time All-Pac-10 performer who led the conference in rushing (1,722 yards) in 2007.
Players have to be nominated by their school's current athletic director or coach. Ballots are emailed to "NFF chapter members, NFF academic members and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) members for a vote."
Results are announced in early January, with a dinner and induction ceremony in December 2026.
There weren't any other Oregon players on the ballot, but there were a couple of notable Oregon adversaries. Boise State and Washington coach Chris Petersen is now eligible and almost certain to be voted in.
Former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton is on the ballot, despite his costly fumble and two interceptions in the 2010-11 National Championship Game (just kidding.)
Other former Oregon adversaries include USC defensive back Mark Carrier, Penn State running back Ki-Jana Carter (who had an 80-yard touchdown run in the 1995 Rose Bowl) and DeSean Jackson, the dynamic receiver and returner from Cal.
Marshaw Lynch, Taylor Mays and Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore made the ballot. From Grant High School in Portland, Ndamukong Suh is nominated.
Suh is a shoe-in, despite bypassing the Ducks for Nebraska in 2005. As a Cornhusker defensive tackle in 2009 he swept the major defensive awards winning the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and Chuck Bednarik Award, one of the most dominating and decorated defensive linemen ever.
Nine Ducks have been inducted into the Hall of Fame
Oregon players in the Hall of Fame
Norm Van Brocklin, John Kitzmiller, John Beckett, Mel Renfro, Ahmad Rashad, LaMichael James, and Haloti Ngata
Oregon coaches in the Hall of Fame
Len Casanova
Mike Bellotti
Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota and First-team All-American DeForest Buckner become eligible next year.