For the second consecutive year, the California football program has three players who have been nominated to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

Current California football general manager and former Golden Bear All-American linebacker Ron Rivera joins wide receiver/kick returner DeSean Jackson and running back Marshawn Lynch on the 2026 ballot.

Former Cal center Alex Mack was selected to the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot last year.

The former Cal players are part of a group of 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) announced Monday by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame and are looking to join 23 Golden Bears already enshrined in the esteemed Hall.

The announcement of the 2026 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class will be made in early 2026, with specific details to be announced in the future.

Below are notes on each member of Cal's trio.

DeSean Jackson - Return Specialist/Wide Receiver

• Two-time First Team All-American (as a specialist), earning consensus honors in 2006.
• Randy Moss Award winner as the nation's top kick returner.
• Earned First Team All-Pac-10 honors as a receiver and punt returner in 2006.
• Cal's career leader in punt return average (16.7) and punt return TDs (6).

Marshawn Lynch - Running Back

• 2006 First Team All-American who led Cal to a share of the 2006 Pac-10 title.
• 2006 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year led the league in rushing (1,356), all-purpose yards (1,785) and TDs (15) that season.
• Two-time bowl game MVP (2005 Las Vegas, 2006 Holiday).
• Cal's all-time leader in 100-yard rushing games (17).

Ron Rivera - Linebacker

• 1983 consensus First Team All-American.
• Lombardi Award finalist in 1983 and named East-West Shrine Game Most Valuable Player.
• Selected as Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 1983.
• Led team in tackles from 1981-83.