The College Football Hall of Fame has notoriously required a 60% career-winning percentage for head coaches to be inducted into the prestigious club.
Of course, that meant that the legendary Mike Leach, with his 59.5% winning percentage, would be unable to be inducted into the HOF, a travesty for an individual that has had as much of an impact on the sport as any singular coach.
But beginning in 2027, the requirement to join the Hall of Fame will be lowered to that 59.5% mark, giving Leach the opportunity to be inducted.
There's a solid chance Leach will be a first-ballot pick, as the former Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State head coach revolutionized football through his simplistic air raid schemes that challenged the run-first approaches most teams employed prior to the 21st century.
Through 21 years as a head coach, Leach recorded a 158-107 overall record, with a 10-year stop at Texas Tech (84-43) being followed by an eight-year stint with Washington State (55-47) before he spent his final three seasons as a coach at Mississippi State (19-17).
At a trio of schools where football success isn't necessarily a given, Leach only missed a bowl game in four of his 21 years as a coach. He was also well-known for his hilarious and often well-thought-out tangents during interviews and press conferences, as the longtime coach was known as one of the most unique personalities in all of sports.
Leach passed away due to complications from a heart condition in December of 2022. He was 61 years old.
