Larry Korver Named to 2025 National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Class

IRVING, Texas – NAIA Hall of Fame football coach Larry Korver has been named to the National Football Foundation (NFF) Hall of Fame Class of 2025, the NFF announced today. He becomes Northwestern’s first coach or athlete to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In 28 years at the helm, Korver led the Red Raiders to two national titles (1973, 1983) and compiled a record of 212-77-6, leading his team to the postseason 11 times. His teams were runners-up in 1972, 1979 and 1984 and reached the semifinals three additional times. Korver received NAIA Coach of the Year honors in 1973 and 1985 and is currently 11th on the NAIA’s all-time coaching wins list.

“The NFF Hall of Fame is a prestigious honor. This is an incredible achievement for Coach Korver, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time,” said Vice President for Athletics Tony Hoops. “Bub joins an elite NFF Hall of Fame group as one of the greatest contributors to college football within all divisions.”

While at Northwestern, Korver developed and prepared student-athletes to not only become great players but also encouraged them to make an impact as husbands, fathers and leaders. He coached 32 NAIA All-Americans, won a conference title in 1994 and was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1990.

Prior to his coaching career, Korver graduated from Northwestern in 1954 when it was still a junior college and continued on South Dakota State University where he received his bachelor’s degree. With the Jackrabbits, he earned First Team All-Conference honors in football and was team MVP in both football and basketball.

“I am so excited for Coach Korver to be chosen for this year’s NFF Hall of Fame,” Northwestern football head coach Matt McCarty said. “His outstanding success on the field pales in comparison to the impact he had on others. He built a tradition of excellence in Raider football that continues today because of his impact on so many.”

Other members of the 2025 class include head coaches Larry Blakeney (Troy), Urban Meyer (Ohio State), and Nick Saban (Alabama). Inducted players include Montee Ball (RB, Wisconsin), Gregg Carr (LB, Auburn), Blake Elliott (WR, Saint John’s), Greg Eslinger (C, Minnesota), Terry Hanratty (QB, Notre Dame), Graham Harrell (QB, Texas Tech), John Henderson (DT, Tennessee), Michael Huff (DB, Texas), Jim Kleinsasser (TE, North Dakota), Alex Mack (OL, California), Terrence Metcalf (OL, Mississippi), Haloti Ngata (DT, Oregon), Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia), Darrin Smith (LB, Miami), Michael Strahan (DL, Texas Southern), Dennis Thurman (DB, USC), Michael Vick (QB, Virginia Tech), and Ryan Yarborough (WR, Wyoming).

Since the Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1951, only .02% of the over 5.5 million individuals who have played or coached college football have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Korver will be inducted to the NFF Hall of Fame on Tuesday, December 9 at the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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