TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Legendary Florida A&M head football coach Rudy Hubbard has been selected for induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, another defining honor for one of the most influential figures in HBCU and college football history.

Hubbard's legacy at Florida A&M University is etched into the foundation of Rattler football. Serving as head coach from 1974–1985, he compiled an 83–48–3 record, ranking among the winningest coaches in program history while establishing a standard of excellence that continues to define FAMU Athletics.

The centerpiece of Hubbard's storied career came in 1978, when he led the Rattlers to the inaugural NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship — a groundbreaking moment for HBCU football and the program's first NCAA national title. That season capped a historic run of back-to-back Black College National Championships in 1977 and 1978, cementing Florida A&M's place atop the national stage.

Hubbard's dominance extended to the Orange Blossom Classic, where he guided the Rattlers to five consecutive victories from 1974–1978. The unprecedented streak helped solidify Florida A&M as the gold standard of Black college football during one of the most competitive eras in the sport.

Already enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021, Hubbard's induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame further underscores his championship pedigree, transformative leadership, and enduring impact on generations of student-athletes and coaches.

Before his tenure at FAMU, Hubbard starred as a running back at Ohio State University from 1965–1967 and later made history as the first African-American assistant coach on Woody Hayes' staff, contributing to multiple championship teams and breaking barriers at the highest level of college football.

Following his collegiate coaching career, Hubbard returned to Tallahassee to lead James S. Rickards High School, continuing his lifelong commitment to mentorship, leadership, and community development before retiring from coaching.

Selection for the Class of 2026 was determined by votes from a nine-member committee composed of prominent journalists, commentators, historians, former NFL general managers and executives, and current members of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

The Class of 2026 will be officially celebrated at the 17th Annual Black College Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, presented by the Atlanta Falcons, on June 6, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. Inductees will also be recognized during halftime of the 5th Annual Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl on February 21, 2026, at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, airing live on NFL Network at 3:00 p.m. CT.