Todd Lyght and Manti Te’o—Two Notre Dame Legends and National Icons Named to 2026 College Football Hall of Fame Class

Two of the most iconic names in Notre Dame football history—Todd Lyght and Manti Te’o—have earned the ultimate honor in collegiate football. The duo, both revered nationally and celebrated in South Bend, have been selected for induction into the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame by the National Football Foundation (NFF). This recognition not only cements their extraordinary on-field legacies but also celebrates the enduring cultural and personal impact they’ve had both during and long after their storied college careers.

Todd Lyght, a cornerstone of the Fighting Irish’s last national championship team in 1988, was a defensive back whose combination of speed, intelligence, and instincts made him a feared presence in the secondary. Manti Te’o, the emotional heartbeat of the 2012 Notre Dame squad that returned to the national title game, was a tackling machine and a leader who helped revive a program in desperate need of identity and toughness.

The NFF’s announcement sparked celebrations among Notre Dame alumni, fans, and teammates alike, all of whom have long regarded both Lyght and Te’o as deserving of the sport’s highest collegiate accolade. While their careers took place in different eras—Lyght thriving under Lou Holtz’s gritty, disciplined 1980s juggernaut and Te’o leading Brian Kelly’s resurgent 2012 team—both embodied the core principles of what it means to be a Notre Dame student-athlete: excellence, character, and leadership.

Lyght’s time in South Bend was defined by consistency and clutch performance. Arriving as part of the class that would help usher in one of the most successful runs in program history, Lyght was a starter as a sophomore on the undefeated 1988 national championship team. He finished his college career as a two-time consensus All-American, amassing 11 career interceptions and 161 total tackles while often shadowing the opponent’s top receiver. His length, football IQ, and footwork made him a prototype at the cornerback position—a forerunner of today’s elite cover men.

But Lyght’s influence extended beyond the stat sheet. He brought a quiet confidence and professionalism to the Notre Dame locker room, a model for teammates to emulate. Following his All-American college career, he became a first-round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft, selected No. 5 overall by the Los Angeles Rams. He went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL, winning Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams and eventually returning to his alma mater as a coach, where he mentored a new generation of Irish defenders with the same wisdom and competitive fire that defined his playing days.

Te’o, meanwhile, remains one of the most beloved and emotionally resonant figures in recent Notre Dame memory. A native of Hawaii, he arrived in South Bend as the nation’s top-ranked linebacker and delivered on every ounce of that hype. But it was his senior season in 2012 that transformed him from star to legend. Amid personal tragedy—including the widely publicized hoax involving a fake girlfriend and the death of his grandmother—Te’o produced a season for the ages. He led the Irish to a 12-0 regular season record, recording 113 tackles and an astonishing seven interceptions from the linebacker position, a feat that underscored his unmatched field awareness.

Te’o’s impact extended far beyond the gridiron. His emotional transparency, spiritual depth, and commitment to Notre Dame’s mission inspired fans and teammates alike. He became the face of a team that reignited national interest in Notre Dame football. His leadership style was rooted in humility, service, and unshakable conviction—qualities that endeared him to the South Bend community and to fans across the nation.

In 2012, Te’o became the first purely defensive player to win the Lott Trophy for impact and character and finished as the Heisman Trophy runner-up—an almost unheard-of accomplishment for a linebacker. He swept nearly every other major defensive award, including the Butkus, Nagurski, and Maxwell awards, and was named a unanimous All-American.

After being drafted in the second round by the San Diego Chargers, Te’o carved out a solid NFL career, though injuries and the lingering shadow of the catfishing scandal somewhat clouded his professional chapter. In recent years, however, there has been a cultural re-evaluation of Te’o, largely due to his vulnerability in the Netflix documentary “Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist.” His candidness earned him renewed public admiration and reminded the world of the grace with which he handled unimaginable circumstances.

Now, both Lyght and Te’o will take their rightful place among the legends of college football. The NFF’s decision honors not just their stats and accolades, but the legacies they built and the standards they upheld.

The College Football Hall of Fame induction is notoriously difficult—only about 0.02% of college players earn the honor. To qualify, a player must have been named a first-team All-American by a major selector, and even then, the competition is fierce. The fact that both Lyght and Te’o were chosen speaks volumes about the significance of their impact.

For Notre Dame fans, this double induction offers a moment of pride and nostalgia. Lyght represents the strength and dominance of the late-1980s Notre Dame program, when the Irish were a perennial national title contender. Te’o symbolizes the hope and resurgence of the 2010s—a time when Notre Dame proved it could still compete with the sport’s modern powers.

Together, they reflect the evolution of Notre Dame football, bridging different eras with a shared devotion to excellence and integrity. They are also reminders of how college football, at its best, transcends the scoreboard. It can elevate young men into cultural icons, moral leaders, and community heroes.

In a statement following the announcement, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick expressed his congratulations. “Todd Lyght and Manti Te’o represent everything that is great about Notre Dame and college football. Their induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament not only to their performance on the field but also to their strength of character, leadership, and service to others. This is a proud day for Notre Dame.”

That pride is palpable in South Bend, where murals, jerseys, and highlight reels keep Lyght’s lockdown defense and Te’o’s sideline-to-sideline range alive in memory. Fans still remember Lyght’s crucial pass breakups in the 1988 championship season and Te’o’s interception against Michigan State in 2012 as if they happened yesterday.

As the 2026 Hall of Fame induction approaches, the spotlight will return to these two legends, who walked very different paths to the same hallowed place. Lyght, polished and quiet, defined by precision and professionalism. Te’o, emotional and electric, defined by heart and heroism.

Both walked out of the Notre Dame tunnel carrying more than helmets and dreams. They carried the weight of a legacy—and they delivered.

Now, with bronze plaques waiting in Atlanta and the echoes cheering once more in Notre Dame Stadium, the names Todd Lyght and Manti Te’o officially join the pantheon of immortals.