Northern Illinois University legend Jordan Lynch, who made history – and led NIU to historic heights – as a record-setting dual threat quarterback, has been named to the ballot for the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame released on Monday by the National Football Foundation (NFF).

Lynch made the ballot as a first-time nominee after his name was forwarded by the District Screening Committee. Making the ballot is an important step in the process toward consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. All-time, just one Huskie – trailblazing quarterback George Bork (1960-63) – has earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player. Bork was inducted in 1999.

Lynch, who was inducted into the NIU Athletics and Mid-American Conference Halls of Fame in 2024, guided NIU to a 24-4 record that included the MAC Championship and historic Orange Bowl appearance in 2012, and an undefeated regular season in 2013 that included Boneyard Wins over Iowa and Purdue.

His career was capped by a trip to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist where his third-place finish ranks as the highest ever by a player from the MAC. Lynch collected first team All-America honors from the Associated Press, Lindy’s and Phil Steele in 2013 as an all-purpose player after making the AP and Phil Steele second teams as a junior. He set five NCAA and 25 school records. The Chicago native never lost a road game (12-0) or a game at Huskie Stadium (11-0) as a starter.

He won the MAC’s Vern Smith Leadership (MVP) Award and was named the league’s offensive player of the year in both 2012 and 2013. In addition to his Heisman finish, Lynch was a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Manning Quarterback Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Senior CLASS Award and AT&T All-America Player of the Year awards as a senior.

The 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot, which includes 79 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks, is emailed to all dues-paying NFF chapter members, including those of the Chicago Metro Chapter, NFF academic members and Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) members for a vote. The results are compiled and provided to the Honors Court, which determines the final class members.

To be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, players must have been named a First Team All-American by a major national selector organization as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 full seasons prior and within the last 50 years; and cannot be currently playing professional football. The candidate’s post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed. For more information on the voting procedures click here.

The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future. The Class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Resort, and permanently immortalized at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.