Leach won 18 games against AP-ranked teams while his own team was unranked, the most since the AP Top 25 Poll began in 1936. "The NFF is committed to preserving the integrity and prestige of the NFF College Football Hall of Fame,

Yet at his passing, Leach was not eligible for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. The requirements for a coach to be inducted include a career winning percentage of .600 — Leach won 59.6% of his games during his head coaching career.

The late coach Mike Leach will be eligible for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame thanks to a rule change.