Mike Leach, the larger-than-life coach credited with popularizing the Air Raid offense and transforming modern college football, has been nominated for the 2027 College Football Hall of Fame class just under four years after his death.

Leach’s final 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, with the class set to be officially unveiled in January. The list features 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 99 players and 39 coaches from lower levels.

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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 Sept. 17, 2022. (Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports)

Under the previous rules, Leach fell short of the eligibility requirements. However, under the revised criteria, he now qualifies for consideration. The NFF announced last year that the minimum career winning percentage required for coaches would decrease from .600 to .595, beginning with the 2027 class.

LEGENDARY COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACH LOU HOLTZ DEAD AT 89

Leach posted a .596 winning percentage during his head coaching tenures at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State. He finished his career with a 158-107 record.

Leach coached his teams to wins in 18 games against Top 25 opponents when his team was unranked.

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 10 full seasons after his last year in college and must have received first-team All-America honors by a major selector. The nominee’s college football achievements are a prime consideration, but his post-football record as a citizen is also taken into account.

Among other FBS coaches on the ballot are Larry Coker, whose Miami team won the 2001 season’s national championship; Dennis Franchione, who made stops at TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M; Ralph Friedgen, who led Maryland to bowls in seven of his 10 seasons; Darryl Rogers, 1977 Big Ten coach of the year at Michigan State; Jackie Sherrill, all-time wins leader at Mississippi State; and Tommy Tuberville, who led powerful Auburn teams of the 2000s.

Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach talks about the quarterback position during the Big 12 media day in Irving, Texas, on July 29, 2009. (Kelley Chinn/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service)

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Heisman Trophy winners Cam Newton of Auburn (2010) and Robert Griffin III of Baylor (2011) are on the ballot along with 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.

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IYO SKY was the first WWE star to advance in the 2026 Queen of the Ring Tournament. The former Money in the Bank winner toppled Giulia, Roxanne Perez, and Lash Legend in a first-round matchup on RAW.

She’ll face the winner of a group consisting of Bayley, Kiana James, Jacy Jayne, and Raquel Rodriguez in the next round. The other side of the bracket features two current women’s champions.

Liv Morgan is in the tournament instead of defending her title. She faces Becky Lynch, Chelsea Green, and Alexa Bliss in a first-round matchup. The final bracket sees Sol Ruca, the current Women’s Intercontinental Champion, taking on Charlotte Flair, Jade Cargill, and Lyra Valkyria.

Valkyria and Ruca will battle over the title next week, meaning Lyra is sure to lose. With some big names still alive, the following three options are the best choices to win, and four others are not the most ideal.

#7. Jade Cargill shouldn’t be Queen of the Ring again

As mentioned above, Cargill faces Ruca, Flair, and Valkyria with a chance to advance on the line. The Storm is coming off two losses to Rhea Ripley with the WWE Women’s Title on the line.

She’s had her chances to regain the title and shouldn’t get yet another via winning Queen of the Ring. Cargill will probably go after Mami again on SmackDown for yet another chance.

Along with her quest to regain the title has been a growing angle with Charlotte Flair. Officials clearly want the two to square off, but a one-on-one match will have to wait. She had her time as champion and won last year. Cargill is a bad choice to win in 2026.

#6. Establishing Jacy Jayne and Fatal Influence as major players

Some may not consider Jacy Jayne as the future, but they’d be wrong. She’s among the most complete performers in all of WWE and is a great heel.

It took her a long time to make the main roster, but the last year was spent building her esteem as a top player. Joining SmackDown with Fatal Influence is a big deal, especially since they targeted Flair, Ripley, Bliss, and the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Paige and Brie Bella.

To establish the trio as threats, Jayne could win the Queen of the Ring. She’d oppose Ripley and give her a good challenge. It could also prolong the Bliss/Flair partnership since WWE wants Flair and Ripley together at the moment.

It would also be a shocking choice, which is something WWE needs to do more of this year. Fans won’t take her seriously if she’s buried by other names in her first big chance for a title opportunity. That would be a mistake.

#5. Too much, too soon for Sol Ruca

The simple fact that Ruca has the Women’s Intercontinental Championship means she’d be a bad choice as the 2026 Queen of the Ring.

It’d be like the heavy, never-ending push Roman Reigns endured right away as a single star. She’s exciting to some, but already has a title in under two months on RAW.

Giving her another huge accolade so soon would reek of favoritism instead of spreading out opportunities to the deserving women on the roster. Several other women in the tournament need it more.

#4. Lyra Valkyria breaks through

Speaking of other women on the roster, Lyra Valkyria has been embroiled in never-ending matches with members of the Judgment Day. She hasn’t been able to win tag team gold with Bayley, so some cracks could emerge to break them up.

Lyra has perhaps the tallest task in her first-round matchup. She has to face Flair, Cargill, and the current golden girl, Ruca. Even with Ruca being newer, Valkyria is the underdog among the four women.

Finally breaking through again to win the Queen of the Ring would set Lyra up as a top face. She did great work against Becky Lynch and made the finals in 2024. It could be her year in 2026.

#3. Charlotte Flair doesn’t need another title shot

WWE is already teasing another showdown between Flair and Ripley. They’ve battled over titles a few times already, but writers have put them together again since last year’s WarGames.

If Flair didn’t win the 2025 Women’s Rumble and titles on 14 other occasions, it’d be fine for her to win this year’s tournament. Her nickname is The Queen, so it would make sense.

Another issue is that Flair can get a title shot whenever she wants due to her spot with bookers. She’s one of the top stars and is always a priority.

#2. IYO SKY wins the 2026 WWE Queen of the Ring

Having IYO SKY win the Queen of the Ring Tournament would be a smart move. She’s one of the most popular women in wrestling and is on her own again on RAW.

WWE used her more as a side player in the Ripley/Cargill feud for WrestleMania. It was so bad that SKY didn’t even get booked on the card. It’s a massive error since she walked into the show the year before as a champion.

SKY winning and challenging Morgan would be a match worthy of SummerSlam. Winning and selecting Ripley could also reopen that angle if officials think it’s necessary.

#1. WWE makes a bad call with Liv Morgan

The fact that WWE put Liv Morgan in the Queen of the Ring Tournament is maddening. They should have made her defend the Women’s World Title instead, since she hasn’t put it up for grabs once since winning it.

She claims she’s in it to prove she’s the greatest women’s champion of all time. It’s a heel move, but having her win the tournament would be a terrible mistake. Morgan has feuded with Ripley numerous times.

Having her win also means she’s currently more important than the rest of the roster. That’s not true, making her one of the worst options to win.