Illinois Legends Vie for Hall of Fame

Two Illinois legends, Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice, are on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2027 class—both poised to join 18 other Illini already enshrined. Hardy, a Butkus Award winner and second overall NFL draft pick in ’96, and Rice, a First Team All-American picked third overall, both left indelible marks on the game. With the last Illini inducted in 2022, anticipation is high as 80 FBS players and 9 coaches compete for just a few coveted spots. The final decision won’t come until early 2027—but if history repeats, these two deserve their place in the Hall. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1178491fb972d131