ESPN REPORT: Ole Miss Legend Eli Manning Officially Inducted Into College Football Hall of Fame
It’s official — Eli Manning, the golden-armed maestro who once ruled Saturdays in the SEC and etched his name into Ole Miss lore, is now forever enshrined among college football’s greatest. The College Football Hall of Fame has welcomed Manning into its hallowed halls, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential and iconic quarterbacks the college game has ever seen.
The announcement came during an ESPN broadcast that turned what was already a celebration of the sport into a moment of deep reverence and reflection. Manning, now a beloved football analyst and two-time Super Bowl champion, was visibly emotional as the honor was unveiled. For Rebel Nation, it was more than a ceremony — it was vindication for a career that electrified Oxford and left a permanent mark on the NCAA record books.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” Manning said in a statement. “To represent Ole Miss and my family name in the College Football Hall of Fame means the world to me. My years in Oxford shaped me — as a quarterback, a teammate, and a man. I’ll forever be grateful.”
And grateful the college football world is to have witnessed Manning’s brilliance on Saturdays.
During his time at Ole Miss from 2000 to 2003, Manning didn’t just live up to the towering expectations of being Archie Manning’s son — he carved his own path, compiling over 10,000 passing yards, 81 touchdowns, and countless unforgettable moments. His senior season was the stuff of legend: he led the Rebels to a 10-3 record, an SEC West title, and a Cotton Bowl victory, earning the Maxwell Award and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
But beyond the numbers, it was the poise, the command, the clutch gene that set Eli apart. He was a surgeon under pressure, a calm field general whose leadership turned Ole Miss from an SEC underdog into a national threat. And while his NFL career added two Super Bowl MVPs and a storied rivalry with Tom Brady, it was in college where the Manning legacy was rekindled — and reborn.
Manning joins a long list of gridiron immortals in the Hall of Fame, but his induction feels personal for the Ole Miss faithful. It’s a crowning achievement for a program icon who never wavered in his loyalty. Despite offers from powerhouses like Tennessee and LSU, Manning stayed true to his family’s roots, choosing Oxford and elevating the Rebels with every throw.
Lane Kiffin, current Ole Miss head coach, was among the first to congratulate him.
“Eli is Ole Miss. His legacy built the foundation we continue to grow from today. Couldn’t be happier for him. Long overdue.”
As the Hall of Fame doors swing open, so too does a new chapter in Eli Manning’s story — one where he stands shoulder to shoulder with the greatest to ever play the game.
And now, it’s official: Eli Manning is college football royalty.
