Legendary Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch has made it to the ballot for the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame induction, announced by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame. The NFF selected Couch as one of the 78 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 101 players and 32 coaches from divisional ranks for the ballot. Couch is a significant name in the world of Kentucky Football, and he played for Wildcat from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, Couch was a first-team All-American and consensus Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. He completed 400 of 553 passes, resulting in 4,275 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Couch led the nation in pass completions, ranked second in completion percentage, passing yardage, and touchdown passes and fourth in total offense. Couch completed his last year at Kentucky with an appearance in the Outback Bowl, the first New Year’s Day bowl for UK in 47 years. He also finished fourth in Heisman Trophy balloting. Couch was nominated for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award twice, as a junior and sophomore. He was successful and received multiple recognitions, including second-team All-SEC honors, and finished ninth in Heisman voting.
Tim Couch received multiple college football records, such as seven NCAA records, 14 SEC records, and 26 school records. He became the No. 1 pick for the Cleveland team in the 1999 NFL Draft after giving up his senior season of eligibility. Couch has also been inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National High School Hall of Fame recently. The 2024 College Football Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in early 2024, and they will be officially inducted during the 66th Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 10, 2024, in Atlanta at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame.
To be eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, a players’ achievements during their college years are the primary consideration. However, their post-football record as a citizen is also evaluated. In addition, there are several criteria to be met, such as the candidates having a degree, and a player becomes eligible for consideration ten full seasons after their final year of intercollegiate football played.
In conclusion, Tim Couch is among the legends of Kentucky football, and it is a proud moment for the university that he is among the nominees for the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame. The NFF has strict selection criteria, and being selected for the ballot is a major recognition, which is a testament to Couch’s incredible college career.
