Colorado Set to Honor Chris Hudson with NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute
September 29, 2026 | Football
IRVING, Texas – The University of Colorado and the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that they will jointly honor 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame electee Chris Hudson with an NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute, presented by Fidelity Investments. The Salute will take place on Oct. 3, during the Buffaloes' home football game against Texas Tech, which will kick off at 5:30 p.m. on FOX.
"Chris Hudson was a tremendous playmaker and a key part of some outstanding Colorado teams," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "A three-time First Team All-Big Eight selection and the 1994 Jim Thorpe Award winner, he always seemed to make a big play when the Buffaloes needed one. We are thrilled to honor Chris in front of the Colorado faithful at Folsom Field and celebrate his place in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame."
The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program, which began with the inaugural NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class in 1951, has become a hallowed tradition, and to this day, the singular events remain the first of numerous activities in the NFF Hall of Fame experience.
During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each electee returns to his respective school to accept an NFF Hall of Fame plaque that will stay on permanent display at the institution. The Salutes take place on the field during a home game, and many NFF Hall of Famers cite the experience as the ultimate capstone to their careers, providing them with one more chance to take the field and be recognized in front of their home crowd.
Hudson capped his collegiate career with a dominant senior season in 1994, earning consensus First Team All-America honors and capturing the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. A cornerstone of the secondary under NFF Hall of Fame head coach Bill McCartney, Hudson helped guide Colorado to a 36-9-3 overall record, four bowl appearances and a Big Eight championship in 1991. Click here for his full NFF Hall of Fame bio.
The Houston, Texas, native now becomes the 11th Buffaloes player inducted into the Hall, joining Byron White (1935-37), John Wooten (1956-58), Joe Romig (1959-61), Dick Anderson (1965-67), Bobby Anderson (1967-69), Herb Orvis (1969-71), Alfred Williams (1987-90), Deon Figures (1988, 90-92), Michael Westbrook (1991-94), and Rashaan Salaam (1992-94). Coach Bill McCartney, who headed the Buffs program from 1982-94, is also a member of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Members of the 2026 class include Jerry Azumah (New Hampshire), Ki-Jana Carter (Penn State), Bruce Collie (Texas at Arlington), George Cumby (Oklahoma), Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh), Marvin Harrison (Syracuse), Garrison Hearst (Georgia), Chris Hudson (Colorado), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Olin Kreutz (Washington), James Laurinaitis (Ohio State), Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois), Herman Moore (Virginia), Terence Newman (Kansas State), Bob Novogratz (Army West Point), Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), Peter Warrick (Florida State), Eric Weddle (Utah), and coaches Jim Margraff (Johns Hopkins [MD]), Gary Patterson (Texas Christian University), Chris Petersen (Boise State, Washington), and Ken Sparks (Carson-Newman [TN]).
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.Â
Including the 2026 NFF Hall of Fame Class, only 1,129 players have been inducted into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.7 million who have played the game during the past 158 years. From the coaching ranks, 241 individuals have achieved NFF Hall of Fame distinction. In other words, less than two one-hundredths of a percent (0.02%) of the individuals who have played or coached the game have earned this distinction.
"Chris Hudson was a tremendous playmaker and a key part of some outstanding Colorado teams," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "A three-time First Team All-Big Eight selection and the 1994 Jim Thorpe Award winner, he always seemed to make a big play when the Buffaloes needed one. We are thrilled to honor Chris in front of the Colorado faithful at Folsom Field and celebrate his place in the NFF College Football Hall of Fame."
The NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salute program, which began with the inaugural NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class in 1951, has become a hallowed tradition, and to this day, the singular events remain the first of numerous activities in the NFF Hall of Fame experience.
During the NFF Hall of Fame On-Campus Salutes, each electee returns to his respective school to accept an NFF Hall of Fame plaque that will stay on permanent display at the institution. The Salutes take place on the field during a home game, and many NFF Hall of Famers cite the experience as the ultimate capstone to their careers, providing them with one more chance to take the field and be recognized in front of their home crowd.
Hudson capped his collegiate career with a dominant senior season in 1994, earning consensus First Team All-America honors and capturing the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. A cornerstone of the secondary under NFF Hall of Fame head coach Bill McCartney, Hudson helped guide Colorado to a 36-9-3 overall record, four bowl appearances and a Big Eight championship in 1991. Click here for his full NFF Hall of Fame bio.
The Houston, Texas, native now becomes the 11th Buffaloes player inducted into the Hall, joining Byron White (1935-37), John Wooten (1956-58), Joe Romig (1959-61), Dick Anderson (1965-67), Bobby Anderson (1967-69), Herb Orvis (1969-71), Alfred Williams (1987-90), Deon Figures (1988, 90-92), Michael Westbrook (1991-94), and Rashaan Salaam (1992-94). Coach Bill McCartney, who headed the Buffs program from 1982-94, is also a member of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame.
Members of the 2026 class include Jerry Azumah (New Hampshire), Ki-Jana Carter (Penn State), Bruce Collie (Texas at Arlington), George Cumby (Oklahoma), Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh), Marvin Harrison (Syracuse), Garrison Hearst (Georgia), Chris Hudson (Colorado), Mark Ingram (Alabama), Olin Kreutz (Washington), James Laurinaitis (Ohio State), Jordan Lynch (Northern Illinois), Herman Moore (Virginia), Terence Newman (Kansas State), Bob Novogratz (Army West Point), Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska), Peter Warrick (Florida State), Eric Weddle (Utah), and coaches Jim Margraff (Johns Hopkins [MD]), Gary Patterson (Texas Christian University), Chris Petersen (Boise State, Washington), and Ken Sparks (Carson-Newman [TN]).
The 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will officially be inducted during the 68th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 8, 2026, at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.Â
Including the 2026 NFF Hall of Fame Class, only 1,129 players have been inducted into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame from the nearly 5.7 million who have played the game during the past 158 years. From the coaching ranks, 241 individuals have achieved NFF Hall of Fame distinction. In other words, less than two one-hundredths of a percent (0.02%) of the individuals who have played or coached the game have earned this distinction.
Sunday, September 27
Sunday, September 27
Sunday, September 27
Sunday, September 27
