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Cam Newton's legendary 2010 season honored with another crowning jewel achievement

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Ian Valentino | Last updated Jun 3, 2025 12:56 AM ET

Cam Newton's 2010 season at Auburn was the greatest single season of college football played in my lifetime. While Joe Burrow's 2019 campaign rivaled it, Newton's impact on Auburn's National Championship run made him a legend forever.

Now, Newton is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was one of 12 new additions in the Class of 2026.

Newton, joining Auburn after two troubled seasons at Florida, walked onto campus as the best athlete in the sport and carried an undermanned offense to an undefeated season. The 14-0 Tigers ranked seventh in scoring and 53rd in scoring against, and eeked out a 22-19 title win against Oregon.

Watching Newton's highlights from 2010 made his raw numbers and Heisman Trophy Award even more impressive. He completed 66.1% of passes for 2,854 yards, 30 touchdowns, and seven touchdowns, then added 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground.

The Cam Newton 2010 Auburn thread begins here. pic.twitter.com/gsprqdS3gW
— Ian V (@NFLDraftStudy) July 3, 2018

Newton became the No. 1 overall pick shortly after, and enjoyed a great career with the Carolina Panthers. He revolutionized the quarterback position as a dual-threat, and was one of the most explosive presences we've ever seen.

He joins an impressive list of stars from yesteryear in the Hall of Fame.

College Football Hall of Fame 2026 ballot includes Colorado RB Eric Bieniemy, Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant, Penn State RB Ki-Jana Carter, Pitt DE Aaron Donald, Syracuse WR Marvin Harrison, Florida WR Percy Harvin, Alabama RB Mark Ingram, FSU K Sebastian Janikowski, Boise State QB…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) June 2, 2025

Per the College Football Hall of Fame's website, players become eligible for consideration 10 full seasons after they last played college football. Once players are included on the ballot, they do not need to be re-nominated but need to go through the voting process every year to make it back to the ballot.

Newton went on to play 11 years in the NFL, 10 of which were with the Panthers. He totaled 32,382 passing yards and 194 touchdowns to 123 interceptions. He added another 5,628 yards and 75 touchdowns on the ground.

Notably, Newton narrowly missed bringing Carolina a Super Bowl win in his magical 2015 season. The Panthers went 15-1 and he won NFL MVP, but lost in the Super Bowl to Peyton Manning's Denver Broncos.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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