University Southern California Trojans
USC’s Jeff Bregel, Mark Carrier and Bruce Matthews Named to 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot
June 02, 2026 | Football
LOS ANGELES—Former USC offensive lineman Jeff Bregel, safety Mark Carrier and offensive lineman Bruce Matthews have been named to the 2027 ballot for induction into the National Football Foundation (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame. They are three of 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision to be placed on the ballot.
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.
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).
Matthews was a 1982 consensus All-American while lettering from 1980-82. USC was 25-8-1 in his career and was 11th in the final AP poll in 1980, 14th in 1981 and 15th in 1982. The Arcadia, Calif. native was a Trojan captain in 1982 and a two-time All-Conference first teamer (1981-82). Matthews was the 1982 recipient of the Pac-10 Morris Trophy as the conference's most outstanding offensive lineman, and he was a 1982 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. He was drafted in the first round (ninth pick) of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Oilers and played with the Oilers/Titans from 1983-2001, including in Super Bowl XXXIV. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and into USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. His brother, Clay, was an All-American linebacker for USC (1974-77). After his USC and NFL career, Matthews became an assistant football coach with the NFL's Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
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. Individuals can cast a vote this year by clicking here to become an NFF member.
The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future.
The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2027 season.
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.
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).
Matthews was a 1982 consensus All-American while lettering from 1980-82. USC was 25-8-1 in his career and was 11th in the final AP poll in 1980, 14th in 1981 and 15th in 1982. The Arcadia, Calif. native was a Trojan captain in 1982 and a two-time All-Conference first teamer (1981-82). Matthews was the 1982 recipient of the Pac-10 Morris Trophy as the conference's most outstanding offensive lineman, and he was a 1982 Playboy Pre-Season All-American. He was drafted in the first round (ninth pick) of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Oilers and played with the Oilers/Titans from 1983-2001, including in Super Bowl XXXIV. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and into USC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. His brother, Clay, was an All-American linebacker for USC (1974-77). After his USC and NFL career, Matthews became an assistant football coach with the NFL's Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
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. Individuals can cast a vote this year by clicking here to become an NFF member.
The announcement of the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2027, with specific details to be announced in the future.
The 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be officially inducted during the 69th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, and they will be honored at their respective schools with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments, during the 2027 season.
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