Mike Leach nominated for College Football Hall of Fame following eligibility rule change

Mike Leach, nan larger-than-life coach credited pinch popularizing nan Air Raid discourtesy and transforming modern assemblage football, has been nominated for nan 2027 College Football Hall of Fame people conscionable nether 4 years aft his death.

Leach's last coaching extremity was astatine Mississippi State earlier his decease successful December 2022.

The National Football Foundation has released nan ballot for adjacent year's class, pinch nan people group to beryllium officially unveiled successful January. The database features 80 players and 9 coaches from nan Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from little levels.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Mississippi State caput coach Mike Leach watches nan crippled against nan LSU Tigers during nan first half astatine Tiger Stadium successful Baton Rouge, Louisiana, connected Sept. 17, 2022. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports)

Under nan erstwhile rules, Leach fell short of nan eligibility requirements. However, nether nan revised criteria, he now qualifies for consideration. The NFF announced past twelvemonth that nan minimum profession winning percent required for coaches would alteration from .600 to .595, opening pinch nan 2027 class.

LEGENDARY COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH LOU HOLTZ DEAD AT 89

Leach posted a .596 winning percent during his caput coaching tenures astatine Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. He vanished his profession pinch a 158-107 record.

Leach coached his teams to wins successful 18 games against Top 25 opponents erstwhile his squad was unranked.

Head Coach Mike Leach of nan Mississippi State Bulldogs arrives astatine Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium earlier a crippled against nan Arkansas Razorbacks successful Fayetteville, Arkansas, connected Nov. 6, 2021. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

A subordinate is eligible 10 afloat seasons aft his past twelvemonth successful assemblage and must person received first-team All-America honors by a awesome selector. The nominee’s assemblage shot achievements are a premier consideration, but his post-football grounds arsenic a national is besides taken into account.

Among different FBS coaches connected nan ballot are Larry Coker, whose Miami squad won nan 2001 season's nationalist championship; Dennis Franchione, who made stops at TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M; Ralph Friedgen, who led Maryland to bowls successful 7 of his 10 seasons; Darryl Rogers, 1977 Big Ten coach of nan twelvemonth astatine Michigan State; Jackie Sherrill, all-time wins leader astatine Mississippi State; and Tommy Tuberville, who led powerful Auburn teams of nan 2000s.

Texas Tech caput shot coach Mike Leach talks astir nan backmost position during nan Big 12 media time successful Irving, Texas, connected July 29, 2009. (Kelley Chinn/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton of Auburn (2010) and Robert Griffin III of Baylor (2011) are connected nan ballot on pinch first-time nominees Tavon Austin of West Virginia, Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin, A.J. Hawk of Ohio State and Barrett Jones of Alabama.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to nan Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.