Montee Ball selected to College Football Hall of Fame

IRVING, Texas – The National Football Foundation (NFF) and College football Hall of Fame revealed the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame Class on Wednesday on ESPN, revealing Montee Ball as a Class of 2025 inductee. Ball will be the 13th Badger player to be enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Ball assembled a legendary career as a Badger, becoming one of the most prolific scorers in college football history and helping the Badgers to three consecutive Rose Bowl appearances from 2010-12. Ball was a two-time consensus First Team All-American (2011, 2012) and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back in 2012.

With Ball’s selection, six former Badgers have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame since 2010.

• Barry Alvarez (coach) – 2010
• Ron Dayne – 2013
• Tim Kumrie – 2016
• Joe Thomas – 2019
• Troy Vincent – 2023
• Montee Ball - 2025

In 2011, Ball was tabbed as the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year and tied Hall of Famer Barry Sanders’ NCAA record of 39 total touchdowns in a season. He led the country with 1,923 yards and 2,229 total yards from scrimmage.

During his career as a Badger, Ball set the NCAA record for career touchdowns (83) and career rushing touchdowns (77). He ranks second in the Badgers’ record book for rushing yards with 5,140 during his career, second to only Hall of Famer Ron Dayne. Ball is still the only player in college football history to rush for 100+ yards in three consecutive Rose Bowl games. 

Ball was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and went on to play two seasons in the league. Ball now serves as a clinical outreach ambassador and recovery coach, publicly speaking about his own battles with alcoholism, anxiety and depression.