Texas Tech University Athletics
Leach headlines 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot
June 01, 2026 | Football
Mike Leach was one of four former Texas Tech head coaches named to the 2027 ballot Monday
LUBBOCK, Texas – Mike Leach was one of four former Texas Tech head coaches named Monday to the 2027 ballot for the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame.
This is the first time Leach has appeared on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot after the National Football Foundation lowered the eligibility criteria for coaches from a .600 winning percentage to .595 within the past year. The decision was made in large part for Leach, who passed away in 2022 with a .596 winning percentage over successful tenures not only with the Red Raiders but also at Washington State and Mississippi State.
Leach, who is already a member of the Texas Tech Hall of Honor, was joined on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot by three others who once roamed the Red Raider sideline in Pete Cawthon (1930-40), Jim Carlen (1970-74) and Tommy Tuberville (2010-12). The coaches ballot also included Larry Coker (Miami/UTSA), Dennis Franchione (Texas State/New Mexico/TCU/Alabama/Texas A&M), Ralph Friedgen (Maryland), Darryl Rogers (Fresno State/San Jose State/Michigan State/Arizona State) and Jackie Sherrill (Washington State/Pittsburgh/Texas A&M/Mississippi State).
One of the top offensive minds in college football history, Leach led the Red Raiders through a memorable tenure from 2000-09, highlighted by an 84-43 overall record over 10 seasons, all of which resulted in a bowl trip. In fact, the Red Raiders became a regular in bowl season under Leach, who pushed the Red Raiders to three nine-win seasons (2002, 2005, 2007) and then 11 wins in 2008. His 84 wins remain the most by a head coach in school history.
Texas Tech rewrote the NCAA record book under Leach and his "Air Raid" offense, developing quarterbacks such as Kliff Kingsbury as well as B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie, Cody Hodges and eventually Graham Harrell. Symons snapped the NCAA FBS single-season record for passing yards in 2003, throwing for an unheard-of 5,833 yards and 52 touchdowns through the air.
Following his tenure at Texas Tech, Leach enjoyed successful stints at both Washington State (2012-19) and Mississippi State (2020-22). His coaching career was highlighted by a 158-107 overall record and 17 bowl trips over his 21 combined seasons as a collegiate head coach. He was in the midst of his third season at Mississippi State when he suddenly passed away on Dec. 13, 2022, at the age of 61.
Cawthon boasts the highest winning percentage (.693) all-time by a Texas Tech head coach after he led the Red Raiders to four Border Conference titles over his 11 seasons. Cawthon, only the third head coach in program history, was 76-32-6 while leading the Red Raiders, which included a perfect 10-0 regular season in 1938 that resulted in the school's first-ever Cotton Bowl appearance.
Tuberville, meanwhile, was 20-17 over his three seasons in Lubbock, one of four stops for him over his coaching career, which also included stints at Ole Miss (1995-98), Auburn (1999-08) and Cincinnati (2013-16). Tuberville boasted a .616 winning percentage over 21 seasons at a collegiate head coach where he was 159-99 overall.
Carlen led the Red Raiders to four bowl games in his five seasons as head coach, compiling a 37-20-2 record from 1970-74. Carlen led Texas Tech to a 11-1 record in 1973, matching the single-season record for wins at the time with a memorable victory over No. 20 Tennessee in the Gator Bowl. Carlen, the Southwest Conference Coach of the Year in 1970 and 1973, closed his coaching career with a record of 107-69-6 with additional stops at West Virginia and South Carolina.
To be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame ballot, players must have been the following: named a first team All-American by a national selector as recognized by the NCAA for its consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least 10 full seasons prior; played within the last 50 years; and cannot be currently playing professional football.
Coaches become eligible three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement provided they are at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years of age. Coaches are required to have been a head coach for a minimum of 10 years and coached at least 100 games with a .595 winning percentage.
Voting for the 2027 class will begin this week among more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers. Votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF's Honors Court, which will deliberate and select the class ahead of the official unveiling in early 2027.
Texas Tech currently has seven players enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta as E.J. Holub was inducted in 1986 followed by Donny Anderson in 1989, Dave Parks in 2008, Gabe Rivera in 2012 and Zach Thomas in 2015. Two of Leach's most-prominent pupils in Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell were inducted as part of the 2022 and 2025 classes. Former head coach Jerry Moore was also inducted as part of the 2014 class.
