Mark Ingram reveals emotions behind being on 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

Mark Ingram is hopeful that 2026 will be the year he finally earns his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The former Alabama running back is one of 79 FBS players who are on the ballot, along with names such as Cam Newton, Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and more.

Ingram certainly has an impressive resume, as do all the nominees, and will hope it can be enough to help him stand out among the group. He spoke on what it means to even be in consideration during a recent episode of the Triple Option podcast, which he co-hosts with Urban Meyer and Rob Stone.

“It’s just an honor any time you have a chance to get recognized for something that you put blood, sweat and tears into,” he said. “Honestly, I feel like I should have been going in with my boy coach this year. Coach Meyer and coach Saban. That would have been crazy. But you talk about the list of guys that you just named, to be able to go in possibily with a big bro, Jonathan Vilma, he’s like family to me. He was my OG when I got to New Orleans as a rookie. Talk about Ndamukong Suh and the dominant player he was, Percy Harvin, one of the best players to ever touch the football. He was a different type of guy. Cam Newton, RGIII, Marvin Harrison, Aaron Donald, I mean come on.

“That’s a legendary class right there. So to be able to go with some ballers like that, I know we’re all gonna have a ball if we get inducted this year. Just looking forward to it. Such a blessing and God is good.”

Ingram played for Alabama from 2008-10. He ranks seventh in program history with 3,261 yards rushing to go along with 42 total touchdowns.

The running back had his best season in 2009, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship. He ended that year with 1,658 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns in what is still the third-most rushing yards in a single season from an Alabama player.

Mark Ingram went on to enjoy a 12-year NFL career with stops on the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. He’s certainly had a number of accolades in both his college and pro career and a College Football Hall of Fame induction would further cement him as one of the greatest players of his era.

The full 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class will be announced in January. Voting for the class ends on July 1.