Ohio State legends Cris Carter and A.J. Hawk have officially landed on the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot. The duo represents the next wave of Ohio State Buckeyes stars vying for the game's highest collegiate honor.

“Being named to this ballot places these remarkable individuals among an exceptionally elite group whose achievements helped shape college football history,” NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell said. 

Carter, an Ohio native and wide receiver, appeared in 34 games across three seasons between 1984 and 1986. He recorded 65 receptions, 1066 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns.

He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a 1986 consensus All-American. 

The 60-year-old was picked third overall in the 1987 NFL Supplemental Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. In his 16-year stint, Carter became a formidable receiver. He recorded 1,101 receptions for 13,899 receiving yards and scored 130 receiving touchdowns. 

Despite two playoff appearances, Carter never competed for the Super Bowl but was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. He earned eight Pro Bowl invites and three first-team All-Pro honors.

The Minnesota Vikings retired his No. 80 jersey in 2003. 

Hawk’s Ohio history is no less. The linebacker was a national champion in his freshman year in 2002. His Buckeyes team won the national title with a 14-0 record, and he contributed two interceptions that year. 

He went first-team All-Big Ten three times, was a consensus All-American in 2004 and a unanimous All-American in 2005. Hawk, in his senior year, won not just the Lombardi Award but also the Jack Lambert Trophy. 

He was the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft and had an 11-year-long NFL career. The Super Bowl XLV champion played for the Green Bay Packers and retired after the 2015 season, playing for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Apart from the players, this ballot includes nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks. 

Details About The 2027 College Hall of Fame Ballot

On June 1, the National Football Foundation emailed this 2027 ballot to over 12,000 NFF members and current NFF Hall of Famers. The announcement about the inductees will be made next year.  

The 2027 class will be inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas. The voting deadline is July 1. The NFF Honors Court, chaired by Ohio State Buckeyes legend Archie Griffin, will tabulate the vote and select the 2027 class. 

The Buckeyes have 29 players and eight coaches in the College Football Hall of Fame. Their latest entrants are former linebacker James Laurinaitis, 2026, and former coach Urban Meyer, 2025.

What are your thoughts on this class? Tell us in the comments. 

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar