Troy University Athletics
Troy, National Football Foundation to Honor Larry Blakeney at "Battle for the Belt"
9/24/2025 9:20:00 AM | Football
TROY, Ala. – Troy Athletics and the National Football Foundation will honor legendary Troy head coach Larry Blakeney during the Trojans' rivalry matchup against South Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 4, at The Vet ahead of Blakeney's induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
The celebration for the all-time winningest coach in Troy and Sun Belt Conference history is in correlation with the NFF's On-Campus Salute for the upcoming members of the 2025 Hall of Fame Class. Kickoff between the Trojans and Jaguars is scheduled for 6 p.m., and fans can purchase tickets by visiting TroyTrojans.com/FBTickets.
The first 2,500 fans in attendance for The Battle for the Belt will receive a free Larry Blakeney College Football Hall of Fame mini poster, and Blakeney will be recognized on the field during the first quarter, along with members from the NFF and presenting sponsor Fidelity.
The celebration for the all-time winningest coach in Troy and Sun Belt Conference history is in correlation with the NFF's On-Campus Salute for the upcoming members of the 2025 Hall of Fame Class. Kickoff between the Trojans and Jaguars is scheduled for 6 p.m., and fans can purchase tickets by visiting TroyTrojans.com/FBTickets.
The first 2,500 fans in attendance for The Battle for the Belt will receive a free Larry Blakeney College Football Hall of Fame mini poster, and Blakeney will be recognized on the field during the first quarter, along with members from the NFF and presenting sponsor Fidelity.
The surprise of a lifetime … join Larry Blakeney as he learned he is one of the newest members of the College Football Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/YUAmcymTd1
— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) January 15, 2025
Blakeney will officially be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 9, 2025, during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. His induction class features two of the sport's most celebrated coaches, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer, along with 19 other players and coaches. Following the ceremony, his accomplishments will be enshrined at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
He led the Trojans to eight conference titles while becoming one of only two coaches in history to guide a program from Division II ultimately to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Blakeney will become the first-ever player or coach in Troy history or Sun Belt Conference (tenure came during SBC membership) history to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
During his 24 seasons as the Troy head coach, Blakeney won 61.1 percent of his games, posting a career record of 178-113-1. He led the Trojans to five bowl games, securing victories in the 2006 and 2010 New Orleans bowls and appearances in the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl, the 2008 New Orleans Bowl and the 2010 GMAC Bowl. Prior to Troy's transition to the FBS, he guided the Trojans to seven FCS playoff appearances in eight seasons.
He remains the all-time winningest coach in Sun Belt Conference history, holding a 20-win advantage over the next closest competitor. He guided Troy to eight conference championships, including three in the Southland Conference, before leading the Trojans to a Sun Belt-record five consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010.
His teams regularly competed against and defeated Power Five opponents, including a signature 24-14 victory over No. 17-ranked Missouri in 2004. He also notched Power Five wins against Mississippi State and Oklahoma State. He was named conference Coach of the Year four times, twice in the Southland and twice in the Sun Belt. He was a two-time AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000. In 1993, during the program's first full year at the FCS level, he led the Trojans to a 10-0-1 regular-season record, the first undefeated regular season in school history. In 1995, his team finished 11-0 in the regular season, marking the first undefeated and untied season in program annals.
Blakeney mentored 14 First Team All-Americans, including 1999 Buck Buchanan Award winner Al Lucas, and he coached 2000 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Nick Colbert. His tenure included 86 First Team All-Conference selections, including three Sun Belt Players of the Year.
He oversaw significant renovations to Veterans Memorial Stadium, increasing its capacity from 12,000 to 17,500 in 1998 and later to 30,000 in 2003. Troy named the playing surface at Veterans Memorial Stadium Larry Blakeney Field. He is one of only two head coaches, alongside UCF's Gene McDowell, to successfully lead a program from Division II to the FBS.
Blakeney has been inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and the inaugural class of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. Beyond coaching, Blakeney remained active in civic service, earning the Chilton County Auburn Club Unsung Hero Award. A frequent speaker at local events, he has dedicated his time to numerous organizations. A former Auburn quarterback, Blakeney made history as the first sophomore to start at the position for legendary Hall of Fame coach Shug Jordan.
He led the Trojans to eight conference titles while becoming one of only two coaches in history to guide a program from Division II ultimately to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Blakeney will become the first-ever player or coach in Troy history or Sun Belt Conference (tenure came during SBC membership) history to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.
During his 24 seasons as the Troy head coach, Blakeney won 61.1 percent of his games, posting a career record of 178-113-1. He led the Trojans to five bowl games, securing victories in the 2006 and 2010 New Orleans bowls and appearances in the 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl, the 2008 New Orleans Bowl and the 2010 GMAC Bowl. Prior to Troy's transition to the FBS, he guided the Trojans to seven FCS playoff appearances in eight seasons.
He remains the all-time winningest coach in Sun Belt Conference history, holding a 20-win advantage over the next closest competitor. He guided Troy to eight conference championships, including three in the Southland Conference, before leading the Trojans to a Sun Belt-record five consecutive titles from 2006 to 2010.
His teams regularly competed against and defeated Power Five opponents, including a signature 24-14 victory over No. 17-ranked Missouri in 2004. He also notched Power Five wins against Mississippi State and Oklahoma State. He was named conference Coach of the Year four times, twice in the Southland and twice in the Sun Belt. He was a two-time AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2000. In 1993, during the program's first full year at the FCS level, he led the Trojans to a 10-0-1 regular-season record, the first undefeated regular season in school history. In 1995, his team finished 11-0 in the regular season, marking the first undefeated and untied season in program annals.
Blakeney mentored 14 First Team All-Americans, including 1999 Buck Buchanan Award winner Al Lucas, and he coached 2000 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Nick Colbert. His tenure included 86 First Team All-Conference selections, including three Sun Belt Players of the Year.
He oversaw significant renovations to Veterans Memorial Stadium, increasing its capacity from 12,000 to 17,500 in 1998 and later to 30,000 in 2003. Troy named the playing surface at Veterans Memorial Stadium Larry Blakeney Field. He is one of only two head coaches, alongside UCF's Gene McDowell, to successfully lead a program from Division II to the FBS.
Blakeney has been inducted into the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and the inaugural class of the Troy University Sports Hall of Fame. Beyond coaching, Blakeney remained active in civic service, earning the Chilton County Auburn Club Unsung Hero Award. A frequent speaker at local events, he has dedicated his time to numerous organizations. A former Auburn quarterback, Blakeney made history as the first sophomore to start at the position for legendary Hall of Fame coach Shug Jordan.
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