Mount Union, Akron stars await College Football Hall of Fame fate
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The 2026 National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame Class will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 14 during ESPN’s “College Football Live” show.
Former Mount Union stars Bill Borchert and Nate Kmic join former Akron Zips standout Steve Cockerham on this year’s ballot. The announcement will be made between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot features 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the divisional ranks.
Borchert was a two-time first-team All-American who helped lead the Purple Raiders to national titles in 1996 and 1997. He won the 1997 Gagliardi Trophy as the most outstanding player in NCAA Division III. Borchert still holds multiple NCAA, conference and school records and finished his career with 14,482 passing yards.
Kmic was a three-time first-team All-American and two-time national offensive player of the year who helped lead Mount Union to three national titles. He became college football’s all-time all-divisions leader in rushing yards with 8,074, all-purpose yards with 9,651 and scoring with 130 touchdowns. Kmic still holds dozens of Division III records.
Cockerham was a two-time first-team All-American linebacker who helped lead the Zips to the 1976 Division II national championship game. He ended his career as Akron’s all-time leader in tackles with 715.
Also on the ballot, is former Ohio State star James Laurinaitis, a three-time first-team All-American linebacker.
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame class officially will be inducted during the National Football Foundation’s annual awards dinner on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.
The Canton Repository sports department can be contacted via email at sports@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Mount Union stars, Akron Zip await College Football Hall of Fame fate
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