NOTE: Click here to visit NFF Media Central for links to photos, video clips and one-on-one interviews with the 2025 honorees. Click here to watch an ESPN+ replay of the dinner, and click here for an replay of the press conference. Permission to use video footage is granted for news purposes only during the customary seven-day window, and the National Football Foundation should be credited for the footage.
 
LAS VEGAS (Dec. 9, 2025) – The Bellagio Resort & Casino played host to an all-star cast of history's greatest football legends and the sport's most promising student-athletes during tonight's 67th National Football Foundation (NFF) Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas.
 
More than 1,800 people attended, and countless more watched on ESPN+ as the star-studded 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class received college football's ultimate honor. The NFF also honored 16 of the game's top student-athletes, who collected postgraduate scholarships as members of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. More than 50 previous NFF Hall of Fame inductees returned, and 125 colleges and universities sent representatives to attend the fabled affair.
 
The festivities began with Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers claiming the 36th William V. Campbell Trophy^® as college football's top scholar-athlete and receiving a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship. The evening culminated with the 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame induction and heartfelt remarks from legendary coaches Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, who spoke on behalf of the 2025 Class.

The 67th edition marked the fifth consecutive year the NFF Annual Awards Dinner was held in Las Vegas, and the NFF has announced that the event will return in 2026. Standout broadcaster Charles Davis, the highly regarded CBS sports announcer, entertained the crowd as the emcee for the annual celebration, which lived up to its historic role of bringing the college football community together at the end of the regular season to pay tribute to the game and its greatest legends.
 
The 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class was introduced by NFF Board Member Archie Griffin, a NFF Hall of Fame running back and two-time Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State. Griffin also conducted the official hall of fame ring ceremony.
 
The 2025 class included Montee Ball (Wisconsin), Gregg Carr (Auburn), Blake Elliott (Saint John's [MN]), Greg Eslinger (Minnesota), Terry Hanratty (Notre Dame), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), John Henderson (Tennessee), Michael Huff (Texas), Jim Kleinsasser (North Dakota), Alex Mack (California), Terrence Metcalf (Mississippi), Haloti Ngata (Oregon), Steve Slaton (West Virginia), Darrin Smith (Miami, FL), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern), Dennis Thurman (Southern California), Michael Vick (Virginia Tech), Ryan Yarborough (Wyoming), and coaches Larry Blakeney (Troy), Larry Korver (Northwestern College [IA]), Urban Meyer (Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, Ohio State), and Nick Saban (Toledo, Michigan State, LSU, Alabama).
 
The 2025 class contained four unanimous, seven consensus, eight multi-year and 18 First Team All-Americans, along with coaches who have combined to win 12 national titles. The 18 players and four coaches bring the total number of players in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame to 1,111 and the number of coaches to 237.
 
Coaches Saban and Meyer shared their thoughts on the night during a fireside chat with Charles Davis, who asked the icons to reflect on their careers. Both coaches spoke about the deeper purpose of the sport, stressing the value of mentorship, life skills, and building opportunities for players far beyond the field.
 
"Besides all the wins, the most important thing to us was always, how do we create value for players," said Saban. "How do we help them be more successful in life because they were involved in the program…the kind of career they develop off the field, and how we can develop them to help them have success as a football player. So, I think this group of guys up here tonight reflects that very well."
 
"I'm very humbled by the mentors that I had growing up and, overall, by the people who have come along our path, our journey," said Meyer. "I grew up in the Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler era. I worked for a guy named Earl Bruce and Sonny Lubick and Bob Davie. And so when I look at these young coaches coming up, I try to mentor them the same way that I was mentored."
 
Click here to watch the full remarks by coaches Meyer and Saban.
 
The 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments® joined the NFF Hall of Famers on stage. Comprised of 16 of the brightest and most talented football players in the nation, each member of the class received an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and was a finalist for The William V. Campbell Trophy^®. NFF Vice Chairwoman Kathleen Murphy led the presentation of the Scholar-Athlete Awards while NFF Vice Chairman Jack Ford had the honor of presenting the 36th Campbell Trophy® to Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers.
 
"It's such an honor just to be able to experience this and to be in the presence of the people up on this stage," said Stowers. "Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to experience this. It's a once in a lifetime moment…. My dad was a player and a coach at one point…. Ever since I was born, I was around the game. So, thank you so much for that, dad. Thank you, mom, for continuing to support me. Both of y'all continue to teach me and work hard to take pride in everything I do."

Click here to watch Stowers' full acceptance speech.
 
Stowers graduated from New Mexico State in May 2024 as a Crimson Scholar (3.92 GPA) before earning his master's degree in finance from Vanderbilt in May 2025. He is continuing postgraduate studies in legal studies at Vanderbilt and has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and Dean's List three times.
 
On the field this season, Stowers leads all tight ends in the country in receiving yards and number of catches resulting in a first down, and he is also second in total receptions. His 2025 stats include 62 receptions for 769 yards and four touchdowns, including recording 100-yard games at No. 13 Texas and in a win against Auburn the following week. His efforts have helped the Commodores post the first-ever 10-win season in program history while also setting a school record with six SEC victories.
 
The other members of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments included Robby Ballentine (DePauw [IN]), Jonah Coleman (Washington), James Conway (Fordham), Jalon Daniels (Kansas), Ty Dugger (Harding [AR]), Aaron Graves (Iowa), Blake Horvath (Navy), Chandler Kirton (Austin Peay), Trey Moore (Texas), Red Murdock (Buffalo), Parker Navarro (Ohio), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Jack Strand (Minnesota State Moorhead), Andon Thomas (Army West Point), and Jackson Waring (Grand View [IA]).
 
Click here to watch the video presentation, highlighting all the finalists.
 
The night also saw the presentation of NFF Major Awards to several individuals, including presentation of the NFF Distinguished American Award to the Army-Navy Game, Oregon Athletics Director Rob Mullens (John L. Toner Award for excellence in athletics administration) and ESPN's College GameDay analyst Lee Corso (Chris Schenkel Award for a distinguished career in broadcasting). NFF Legacy Awards for extraordinary contributions to the NFF and its mission were presented to Delta Air Lines Director of Specialty Sales Norma Dean, Football Writers Association of America Executive Director Steve Richardson, Ole Miss Special Assistant to the Athletics Director for History Langston Rogers, SMU Dedman School of Law Professor of Law C. Paul Rogers III, and Peach Bowl CEO & President Gary P. Stokan.
 
Steve Hill, the CEO/President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the event's presenting sponsor, provided the official welcome while the invocation was done by Tyrone Jones, the lead pastor at Church for The City in Yuma, Arizona. Country music singer & songwriter Sierra Black performed the National Anthem, and America's Beloved Tenor Daniel Rodriguez took the stage to sing "God Bless America."
 
The NFF also recognized North Carolina Central quarterback Walker Harris and South Carolina State defensive back Jarod Washington as the 2025 MEAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. MEAC Commissioner Sonja O. Stills formally announced them earlier in the day as the top 2025 MEAC players during the NFF Annual Awards Press Conference Presented by Elite Media Network.
 
The five 2025 NFF Chapter Leadership Award recipients, one from each region of the country, were also recognized for their leadership at the local level: Wade Bianco (NFF Rochester [New York] Chapter), Jeff Bollig (NFF Coach Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower [Kansas] Chapter), Shawn Cerra (Brian Piccolo [Fort Lauderdale] Chapter), Tim Kish (Southern Arizona [Tucson] Chapter) and Frank Luisi (Nassau County [New York] Chapter).
 
Earlier today, Arkansas Alumni Association Associate Executive Director Kevin Trainor moderated the NFF Annual Awards Press Conference Presented by Elite Media Network. Streamed on ESPN+, the press conference featured insights from the 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class and the announcement of the 2025 MEAC Players of the Year. Click here to watch a replay.
 
Rafanelli Events, led by President Deborah Farley, served as the event coordinator for the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas. The Award Dinner was executive produced by James Avery of Element Experiential. The videos featured in the program were produced by Annabel Hardin of Dallas-based LDWW.
 
The NFF corporate partners, who all support the NFF Annual Awards Dinner, include Bob's Steak & Chop House, Catapult, College Football Playoff, Delta Air Lines, Elite Media Network, Fanatics, Fidelity Investments, Hampshire Foundation, Insignia Event Services, Jason Hanold of CAA Executive Search, Jostens, The More Family, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, National Football League, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Riddell, Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, Shaw Sports Turf, Shriners Children's Hospital / East-West Shrine Bowl, and the United States Naval Academy Department of Athletics.
 
Other event sponsors and supporters for the event included Brooks Brothers, CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports, FWAA, iSix, LDWW, Learfield Publishing, MGM Sports and Entertainment, and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
 
"What an incredible night at the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner here in Las Vegas," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We couldn't do this without the unwavering commitment of our corporate partners and sponsors, and I want to particularly thank the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and CEO/President Steve Hill for stepping up as our presenting sponsor. The impact of football is undeniable—it builds leaders, creates opportunities and strengthens the fabric of our nation. Tonight's honorees prove that the Future For Football has never looked brighter."
 
A replay of tonight's event can be watched on ESPN+ by clicking here.
 
ABOUT THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL FOUNDATION & COLLEGE HALL OF FAME
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik, and journalist Grantland Rice, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) is a nonprofit organization that leverages the power of amateur football to build leaders. With 120 chapters in 47 states, the NFF oversees initiatives such as the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, the William V. Campbell Trophy®, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, Future For Football, and I Played. Learn more at footballfoundation.org and follow @NFFNetwork on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.