LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Bowl's Hall of Fame will welcome its fourth – and largest -- class this December to help commemorate reaching the game's 35-year milestone. 
 
The illustrious group, which was announced Wednesday by Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti, is made up of the first of the game's alumni to later become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, former USC star safety Troy Polamalu; one of only two head coaches to win a Las Vegas Bowl at two different schools, Jeff Tedford; former longtime Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson; and another pair of legendary contributors who have helped in the production of every Las Vegas Bowl – stadium game announcer Dick Calvert and officials executive Marc Ratner.
 
Taking place on New Year's Eve for the second consecutive season, Las Vegas Bowl XXXV will be played Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026, at 12:45 p.m. PT (3:45 p.m. ET) at Allegiant Stadium and televised by ESPN. With a scheduled matchup featuring a team from the SEC vs. a representative from either the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC or Oregon State and Washington State (each featuring teams from the former Pac-12 Conference), tickets are available now by visiting www.lvbowl.com.
 
"We are so excited about our New Year's Eve kickoff for our 35th outing and celebrating this impressive class of people who helped build this event both on and off the field will make it even more special," said Saccenti. "From memorable performances such as Troy's record-setting outing for the Trojans to Coach Tedford getting it done with two different schools 13 years apart, to three pillars who helped in elevating this game for decades in Craig, Dick and Marc – we can't wait to tell the stories of the Las Vegas Bowl Hall of Fame Class of 2026."
 
The Las Vegas Bowl Hall of Fame welcomes a class every five years but there is no time requirement to be eligible for induction. While there is no minimum or maximum number of honorees in a class, inductees fall under the following categories: Player, Coach, Founder or Contributor. The class will be officially inducted as part of the annual Kickoff Luncheon on December 30 and introduced on the field during the game the following day.
 
The bowl's inaugural class in 2011 featured Steven Jackson (Oregon State running back), Anthony Calvillo (Utah State quarterback), John Robinson (UNLV head coach) and Rossi Ralenkotter (founding father). The 2016 class welcomed Marshawn Lynch (Cal running back), Brent Musburger (broadcaster) and Rob Dondero (founder). The 2021 class boasted Kellen Moore (Boise State quarterback), Chris Petersen (Boise State head coach) and former ESPN executive Pete Derzis (contributor). 
 
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LAS VEGAS BOWL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2026
 
DICK CALVERT
Stadium Game Announcer
Contributor
-A legendary voice of sporting events in Southern Nevada for nearly 60 years
-Has served as the stadium game announcer for every Las Vegas Bowl game starting with the inaugural contest at Sam Boyd Stadium between Bowling Green and Nevada in 1992
-The former "Voice of the Rebels" worked more than 4,000 UNLV contests and events in his five decades on the microphone as game announcer, emcee, host and radio and TV play-by-play man
-Also, formerly one of the most experienced commentators of American professional soccer, having served 18 seasons in both the North American and Major Indoor Soccer Leagues and worked in three World Cups
-Inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2010
-Inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017
 
TROY POLAMALU
Defensive Back, USC                   
Las Vegas Bowl 2001
-A legendary defensive back on the collegiate and professional levels
-Widely considered one of the best safeties to ever play the sport
-As a junior for USC, he set the record for most total tackles in a Las Vegas Bowl with a stunning 20 takedowns (including three tackles-for-loss) vs. Utah on Christmas Day 2001 on ABC 
-Finished that season with a team-high 118 tackles, 13 TFL, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three blocked punts and two touchdowns en route to being named a First Team All-American for the first of two consecutive seasons
-A first round NFL pick after his senior season in 2002, he spent his entire 12-season career starring for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2003-14
-An eight-time Pro Bowl and six-time All-Pro selection, he was the 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
-Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, his first year of eligibility.
 
MARC RATNER
Officials Executive
Contributor
-A world-renowned athletics official who has been a resident of Southern Nevada since 1957
-Has served as the game officials liaison for every Las Vegas Bowl starting with the inaugural contest at Sam Boyd Stadium between Bowling Green and Nevada in 1992
-Served as the NIAA Southern Zone Commissioner of the Southern Nevada Officials Association from 1991-2024
-Served as an on-field game official on the high school and collegiate level, including three different bowl games across the country
-Joined the Nevada State Athletic Commission in 1985 and rose to Executive Director in 1993
-Left the Commission to join the fledgling Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2006 and continues to serve as UFC Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs
-Widely credited with helping legitimize the sport of mixed martial arts and getting UFC regulated throughout the United States and across the globe
-Inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2005
-Inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012
-Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016
-Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2020
 
CRAIG THOMPSON
Mountain West Commissioner
Contributor
-The first and only Commissioner of the Mountain West Conference from 1998 until his retirement from the league in 2022 
-The winner of the Mountain West Football Championship Game is now awarded the Craig Thompson Trophy
-Mountain West teams appeared in 20 Las Vegas Bowls during his tenure and compiled the most wins by any league in history with a 12-8 mark
-Sent the very first MW champion, Utah, to the 1999 Las Vegas Bowl as the Utes downed WAC-champion Fresno State at Sam Boyd Stadium
-Contributed to the development of the Las Vegas Bowl with a multi-year agreement to send the conference's champion to compete against a Pac-12 Conference team starting in 2001 
-A five-decade veteran of athletic administration, Thompson previously served as the commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference and American South Conference
-Honored by the National Football Foundation with an NFF Legacy Award in 2022
-Honored with the Bowl Season Champions Award in 2026 for his monumental impact on college football and athletics administration
 
JEFF TEDFORD
Head Coach
University of California & Fresno State University
Las Vegas Bowls 2005 and 2018
-Compiled a 2-0 coaching record in the Las Vegas Bowl
-One of only two coaches, along with Chris Petersen, to win a Las Vegas Bowl at two different schools
-Defeated BYU in 2005 (35-28) while at Cal and then downed Arizona State in 2018 (31-20) while at Fresno State
-Winningest head coach in Cal football history with a record of 82-57 from 2002-12
-Twice named Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year with the Golden Bears (2002, '04)
-A former college quarterback, he spent two stints leading his alma mater, Fresno State (2017-19 & 2022-23)
-Led the Bulldogs to a Mountain West Championship in both 2018 and 2022 and a school-record 12 wins in 2018
-Named Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2017
 
Allegiant Stadium
Located adjacent to the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and home to the Las Vegas Raiders, Allegiant Stadium is an award-winning global events destination. The state-of-the-art, fully enclosed, multipurpose venue, with a capacity of more than 65,000, hosts the world's biggest artists, most sought-after tours and premier sporting events including Super Bowl LVIII, multiple NFL Pro Bowls, WrestleMania 41 and 42, CONCACAF Gold Cup Final and UNLV Rebels football. Allegiant Stadium will also host the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship, the 2028 Men's Final Four and Super Bowl LXIII in 2029. Allegiant Stadium is committed to giving back to the community through diversity, inclusion, and outreach initiatives. In addition, Allegiant Stadium is proud to be LEED Gold-certified, powered by 100 percent Nevada-sourced renewable energy and dedicated to implementing sustainable practices and programs. For more information, visit allegiantstadium.com or follow @allegiantstadm on X and @allegiantstadium on Instagram.
 
ESPN Events
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Position Sports contact: Jeff Motley at jeff.motley@positionsports.com (702) 210-4158
Las Vegas Bowl contact: Mark Wallington at mark.wallington@unlv.edu (702) 528-6291
ESPN Communications contact: Danny Chi at danny.c.chi@espn.com (213) 405-4400