Mike Leach Finally Makes Ballot For College Football Hall Of Fame

The late Mike Leach has just inched one step closer to making the College Football Hall of Fame.

When Leach passed away in December 2022, most fans assumed he'd cruise into the College Football Hall of Fame. However, he was initially ineligible because coaches needed to have a minimum of 10 years of service while coaching in at least 100 games and owning a winning percentage of .600 or better.

Leach's winning percentage was just short of the cut line at .596. As you'd imagine, fans weren't thrilled about him being left off the Hall of Fame ballot.

It was later announced that the required winning percentage to make the College Football Hall of Fame was lowered to .595, which would make Leach eligible for this honor.

With that being said, Brett McMurphy of On3 reported Friday that Leach is officially on the ballot for the Hall of Fame's Class of 2027.

The legacy of Mike Leach.

Leach, who had stops at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, finished his career with a 158-106 record. His "Air Raid" offense influenced countless coaches around the country.

"Coach Leach, in my mind, and I believe in most of the people in this room's mind, is a no-doubt Hall of Fame," USC coach Lincoln Riley previously said. "He impacted our game more in the last 50 years than a lot of other people. Not only with his legacy but also with his football acumen. His air raid offense is the dominant offense when you look at high school football, its elements in college football, and all the way translating into the NFL. We all know Y-cross, we all know that six is four verticals. We all understand that rocket laser where tailback screens rocket to the right, laser to the left."

Hopefully, Leach gets inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2027.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 9:27 AM.