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Two Illini legends are hoping to join 18 former Illinois players in the College Football Hall of Fame this year.
The 2027 ballot was released on Monday, and this year’s ballot includes Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice. Overall, the ballot has 80 players and nine coaches from the FBS ranks.
Hardy was the 1995 Butkus Award winner and the No. 2 pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. Rice was picked No. 3 overall and a two-time First Team All-American with the Illini.
No Illini has been inducted since Moe Gardner in 2022.
This year’s class will be announced in early 2027.
