Mike Leach has been elected to the Class of 2027 College Football Hall of Fame
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Mike Leach, the larger-than-life coach credited with the Air Raid offense and changing modern college football, has been elected to the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class less than four years after his death.
Leach’s last coaching stop was at Mississippi State before his death in December 2022.
The National Football Foundation has released the ballot for next year’s class, and the class will be officially introduced in January. The roster includes 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from the minor leagues.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach watches the game against the LSU Tigers during the first half at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on September 17, 2022. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports)
Under the previous rules, Leach fell short of the eligibility requirements. However, under the revised criteria, he is now eligible for consideration. The NFF announced last year that the minimum career winning percentage required for coaches would drop from .600 to .595, starting with the class of 2027.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH LOU HOLTZ IS 89
Leach posted a .596 winning percentage during head coaching stints at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. He finished his career with a record of 158-107.
Leach coached his teams to 18 wins against the Top 25 while his team was not on the list.
Head Coach Mike Leach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs arrives at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Nov. 6, 2021. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
A player is eligible for 10 full seasons after his senior year in college and must have earned first-team All-America honors by a major leaguer. A nominee’s college football achievements are the primary consideration, but his post-football record as a citizen is also considered.
Among the other FBS coaches on the ballot are Larry Coker, whose Miami team won the national championship in the 2001 season; Dennis Franchione, who made stops at TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M; Ralph Friedgen, who led Maryland in bowls in seven of his 10 seasons; Darryl Rogers, 1977 Big Ten coach of the year at Michigan State; Jackie Sherrill, Mississippi State’s all-time wins leader; and Tommy Tuberville, who led Auburn’s strongest teams in the 2000s.
Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach talks about the quarterback situation during Big 12 news day in Irving, Texas, July 29, 2009. (Kelley Chinn/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton of Auburn (2010) and Robert Griffin III of Baylor (2011) are on the ballot along with first-time picks Tavon Austin of West Virginia, Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin, AJ Hawk of Ohio State and Barrett Jones of Alabama.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on Xand register at Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
