USC’s Jeff Bregel, Mark Carrier and Taylor Mays Named to 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
June 02, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES--Former USC safeties Mark Carrier and Taylor Mays and offensive lineman Jeff Bregel have been named to the 2026 ballot for induction into the National Football Foundation (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame. They are three of 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision to be placed on the ballot.
Carrier was USC's first Thorpe Award winner in 1989 as the nation's top defensive back. The two-time All-American (1988-89, unanimous in 1989) lettered for the Trojans from 1987-89. USC was 27-8-1 in his career and was 18th in the final AP Poll in 1987, seventh in 1988 and eighth in 1989. The Long Beach, Calif. native was a two-time All-Conference first teamer (1988-89) and won USC's Defensive Player of the Game versus Notre Dame Award in 1989. He also won USC's Defensive Player of the Game versus UCLA Award in 1987 and 1989. He led USC in interceptions in 1989 (7) and led the Pac-10 in interceptions in 1989 (0.64). He is tied for sixth on USC's career interception list (13). Carrier was drafted in the first round (sixth pick) of the 1990 NFL Draft as a junior by the Bears and played for the Bears (1990-96), Lions (1997-99) and Redskins (2000). He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 and made the Pac-12 All-Century Team in 2015. After USC and the NFL, Carrier became a radio sports commentator and a college and pro football assistant coach (Arizona State, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals).
Mays was USC's fourth-ever three-time All-American (2007-09, consensus in 2008), joining linebacker Richard Wood in 1972-74, quarterback Matt Leinart in 2003-05 and offensive tackle Sam Baker in 2005-07. He lettered for the Trojans from 2006-09, and USC was 43-9 throughout his career. He was a member of three Pac-10 championship teams (2006-08) and won the Rose Bowl in each of his first three college seasons. USC was fourth in the final AP Poll in 2006, third in both 2007 and 2008 and 22nd in 2009. The Seattle native was a finalist for the 2008 Thorpe Award and a two-time All-Conference first teamer (2008-09). He was named a 2008 and 2009 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. Mays was selected as a Freshman All-American and a Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2006. The four-year starter won USC's 2008 Bob Chandler Award presented to an underclassman, based on athletic ability, academic scholarship and character on and off the field, including the individual's leadership, courage, tenacity, discipline, loyalty and high standards of morals and values. He also won USC's 2009 Jack Oakie "Rise and Shine" Award given to the player making the biggest hit of the year, and USC's 2009 Co-Lifter of the Year Award. Mays was selected to play in the 2010 Senior Bowl. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round (49th overall pick) of the 2010 NFL Draft, and played for the 49ers (2010), Bengals (2011-14) and Raiders (2015). He returned to USC in 2022 to coach a new generation of Trojans. He served on USC head coach Lincoln Riley's coaching staff from 2022-24, most recently as assistant defensive backs coach. He currently coaches at Washington as the Huskies' safeties coach.
Bregel was two-time (1985-86) consensus All-American while lettering at USC from 1983-86. USC went 26-20-1 in his career. Bregel played in the 1985 Rose Bowl, 1985 Aloha Bowl and 1987 Citrus Bowl and was a USC captain in 1986. USC finished 10th in the final AP Poll in 1984. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native was the recipient of the 1985 Pac-10 Morris Trophy as the conference's most outstanding offensive lineman. Bregel was a two-time All- Conference first teamer (1985-86). He won USC's Player of the Game versus Notre Dame Award in 1985, and was a 1985 and 86 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. He also played in the 1986 East-West Shrine Game. Bregel shined academically and was the winner of USC's Football Alumni Club Award for highest grade point average in 1986. He also received the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship in 1986 and was named a 1986 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and a 1986 Academic All-American first teamer. Bregel was drafted in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and played for them from 1987 to 89.
The College Football Hall of Fame ballot was emailed to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class.
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.
The 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented in Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, and they will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2026 season.
Carrier was USC's first Thorpe Award winner in 1989 as the nation's top defensive back. The two-time All-American (1988-89, unanimous in 1989) lettered for the Trojans from 1987-89. USC was 27-8-1 in his career and was 18th in the final AP Poll in 1987, seventh in 1988 and eighth in 1989. The Long Beach, Calif. native was a two-time All-Conference first teamer (1988-89) and won USC's Defensive Player of the Game versus Notre Dame Award in 1989. He also won USC's Defensive Player of the Game versus UCLA Award in 1987 and 1989. He led USC in interceptions in 1989 (7) and led the Pac-10 in interceptions in 1989 (0.64). He is tied for sixth on USC's career interception list (13). Carrier was drafted in the first round (sixth pick) of the 1990 NFL Draft as a junior by the Bears and played for the Bears (1990-96), Lions (1997-99) and Redskins (2000). He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 and made the Pac-12 All-Century Team in 2015. After USC and the NFL, Carrier became a radio sports commentator and a college and pro football assistant coach (Arizona State, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals).
Mays was USC's fourth-ever three-time All-American (2007-09, consensus in 2008), joining linebacker Richard Wood in 1972-74, quarterback Matt Leinart in 2003-05 and offensive tackle Sam Baker in 2005-07. He lettered for the Trojans from 2006-09, and USC was 43-9 throughout his career. He was a member of three Pac-10 championship teams (2006-08) and won the Rose Bowl in each of his first three college seasons. USC was fourth in the final AP Poll in 2006, third in both 2007 and 2008 and 22nd in 2009. The Seattle native was a finalist for the 2008 Thorpe Award and a two-time All-Conference first teamer (2008-09). He was named a 2008 and 2009 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. Mays was selected as a Freshman All-American and a Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2006. The four-year starter won USC's 2008 Bob Chandler Award presented to an underclassman, based on athletic ability, academic scholarship and character on and off the field, including the individual's leadership, courage, tenacity, discipline, loyalty and high standards of morals and values. He also won USC's 2009 Jack Oakie "Rise and Shine" Award given to the player making the biggest hit of the year, and USC's 2009 Co-Lifter of the Year Award. Mays was selected to play in the 2010 Senior Bowl. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round (49th overall pick) of the 2010 NFL Draft, and played for the 49ers (2010), Bengals (2011-14) and Raiders (2015). He returned to USC in 2022 to coach a new generation of Trojans. He served on USC head coach Lincoln Riley's coaching staff from 2022-24, most recently as assistant defensive backs coach. He currently coaches at Washington as the Huskies' safeties coach.
Bregel was two-time (1985-86) consensus All-American while lettering at USC from 1983-86. USC went 26-20-1 in his career. Bregel played in the 1985 Rose Bowl, 1985 Aloha Bowl and 1987 Citrus Bowl and was a USC captain in 1986. USC finished 10th in the final AP Poll in 1984. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native was the recipient of the 1985 Pac-10 Morris Trophy as the conference's most outstanding offensive lineman. Bregel was a two-time All- Conference first teamer (1985-86). He won USC's Player of the Game versus Notre Dame Award in 1985, and was a 1985 and 86 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. He also played in the 1986 East-West Shrine Game. Bregel shined academically and was the winner of USC's Football Alumni Club Award for highest grade point average in 1986. He also received the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship in 1986 and was named a 1986 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and a 1986 Academic All-American first teamer. Bregel was drafted in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and played for them from 1987 to 89.
The College Football Hall of Fame ballot was emailed to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class.
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.
The 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented in Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, and they will also be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2026 season.
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