Two Bulldogs earn place on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced today the names on the 2027 Ballot under consideration for induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame. The 2027 ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks. The ballot includes former Bulldogs Bernard Berrian and the late Darryl Rogers (1934-2018).

Berrian is back on the ballot for the third time in as many years, while it's Rogers' 23rd time on the ballot.

Berrian (1999-03) made his mark all over the Fresno State record books as a wide receiver and return specialist before being selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. In 2001, Berrian was named a first-team All-American return specialist the season he led the nation in all-purpose yards (2,776) while also setting the Fresno State school record. He also set the all-purpose career yardage mark (5,828) before he departed in 2003, but that record was later broken by Isaiah Burse in 2013 (5,873).

During his career as a receiver, Berrian hauled in 199 receptions for 2,849 yards and 25 touchdowns for Fresno State – all marks that respectively still rank in the top 10 in program history. Berrian's success helped guide the Bulldogs to a 35-18 record and four bowl appearances in his four seasons on the gridiron. Over those years he was named a three-time All-WAC performer.

Rogers, a former Fresno State wide receiver (1955-57) and head football coach (1966-72), is listed on the HOF coaches' ballot.

While coaching for the Bulldogs, Rogers led Fresno State to a California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship in 1968 as well as bowl games in 1968 and 1971. Rogers owned a 43-32-1 career record at Fresno State, leading the 'Dogs to six winning seasons of his seven at the helm of the program.

Rogers coached one season at Cal State-Hayward (1965) before Fresno State, and after his tenure with the Bulldogs he went on to coach at San Jose State (1973-75), Michigan State (1976-79) and Arizona State (1980-84) before moving on to the NFL ranks.

In his 20 seasons as a collegiate coach, he compiled a 129-84-7 record. Rogers was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1977 and National Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 1978.

The announcement of the 2027 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.

Of the 5.86 million individuals who have played college football since Princeton first battled Rutgers on Nov. 6, 1869, only 1,129 players have earned induction into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, or less than two one-hundredths of a percent (.02%) of those who have played the game during the past 157 seasons. From the coaching ranks, 241 individuals have achieved NFF Hall of Fame distinction.

Fresno State Athletics

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Two Bulldogs earn place on 2027 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

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