University of Tennessee Athletics
Heupel, Grant, Seivers On 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
June 02, 2025 | Football
IRVING, Texas - Former Oklahoma national champion quarterback and Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel as well as VFL greats Deon Grant and Larry Seivers appear on the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame ballot, the National Football Foundation (NFF) announced on Monday.
Heupel, who enters his fifth season with the Volunteers, is on the ballot for a sixth straight year. A 2000 consensus first-team All-American, he led the Sooners to the 2000 national championship with a win in the Orange Bowl. In two seasons, Heupel rewrote the Oklahoma record books and was the 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up before going onto a successful coaching career.
Grant, a 1999 consensus first-team All-America safety, is making his debut on the ballot. Grant starred on the Vols' stellar defense from 1997-99, a period that saw UT post a 33-5 record, a 1998 national championship and claim SEC titles in 1997 and 1998.
Grant's 1999 season was highlighted by an NCAA-best nine interceptions, a mark that ranks second in UT single-season history. He was tabbed the Associated Press SEC Defensive Player of the Year that fall before being selected in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Grant is a member of the Tennessee Sports and Georgia Sports Halls of Fame.
Seivers was a two-time consensus first-team All-American in 1975 and 1976. In 1975, he became the first Vol to eclipse 800 receiving yards in a single season. He was also a two-time first-team All-SEC selection. In 1976, Seivers caught 51 passes for 737 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per catch. He left Tennessee with more catches than anyone (117) and most receiving yards gained (1,924).
The three individuals make up the 79 FBS players on the 2026 ballot. View the full ballot here.
The announcement of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future.
Tennessee adds to its proud College Football Hall of Fame tradition this December when VFL John Henderson is formally inducted at the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. The Vols have produced 27 Hall of Famers – 23 as players and four as coaches.
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Heupel, who enters his fifth season with the Volunteers, is on the ballot for a sixth straight year. A 2000 consensus first-team All-American, he led the Sooners to the 2000 national championship with a win in the Orange Bowl. In two seasons, Heupel rewrote the Oklahoma record books and was the 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up before going onto a successful coaching career.
Grant, a 1999 consensus first-team All-America safety, is making his debut on the ballot. Grant starred on the Vols' stellar defense from 1997-99, a period that saw UT post a 33-5 record, a 1998 national championship and claim SEC titles in 1997 and 1998.
Grant's 1999 season was highlighted by an NCAA-best nine interceptions, a mark that ranks second in UT single-season history. He was tabbed the Associated Press SEC Defensive Player of the Year that fall before being selected in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. Grant is a member of the Tennessee Sports and Georgia Sports Halls of Fame.
Seivers was a two-time consensus first-team All-American in 1975 and 1976. In 1975, he became the first Vol to eclipse 800 receiving yards in a single season. He was also a two-time first-team All-SEC selection. In 1976, Seivers caught 51 passes for 737 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per catch. He left Tennessee with more catches than anyone (117) and most receiving yards gained (1,924).
The three individuals make up the 79 FBS players on the 2026 ballot. View the full ballot here.
The announcement of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future.
Tennessee adds to its proud College Football Hall of Fame tradition this December when VFL John Henderson is formally inducted at the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. The Vols have produced 27 Hall of Famers – 23 as players and four as coaches.
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