Washington State kicker Quentin Breshears missed a 19-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining to bring a deflating end to a high-flying 60-59 victory by California over the Cougars in a Pac-12 game on Oct. 4, 2014.

The National Football Foundation announced the College Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 on Monday afternoon. In addition to former SEC stars Eric Berry of Tennessee and Tim Tebow of Florida, the inductees included former Georgia coach Mark Richt, the 31st man to coach in the SEC to reach the football shrine.

RELATED: TIM TEBOW, ERIC BERRY JOINING COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

What does a missed field goal have to do with a coach’s selection for the College Football Hall of Fame?

Had the field-goal attempt gone through the uprights instead of wide right and delivered the victory for Washington State, coach Mike Leach would be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Leach died on Dec. 12 at age 61 from complications related to a heart condition. He had one game remaining in his third season as the coach at Mississippi State – the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois on Jan. 2.

Leach had a 19-17 record at Mississippi State. He led Texas Tech to an 84-43 record from 2000 through 2009 and Washington State to a 55-47 showing from 2012 through 2019.

Adhering to an innovative passing offense that became widely adopted and adapted, Leach compiled a career record of 158-107 at his three head-coaching stops.

That’s a .596 winning percentage.

Change any one of those 107 losses to a victory, Leach’s career winning percentage moves to .600.

Why is that a big deal?

According to the requirements, to be considered for the College Football Hall of Fame, coaching candidates must have at least 10 seasons and 100 games as a head coach with a minimum winning percentage of .600.

With a 171-64 career record, Richt had a .728 winning percentage.

After completing his third and final season at Miami (Fla.) in 2018, Richt was ushered quickly into the College Football Hall of Fame.

A coach becomes eligible for induction three full seasons after retirement, unless he’s at least 70 years old. If that’s the case, the coach is immediately eligible upon retirement. Active coaches become eligible at 75 years old.

In addition to Richt, the other men who coached in the SEC and are members of the College Football Hall of Fame include (with SEC stops and overall career record):

· Bill Alexander, Georgia Tech: 134-95-15, .580

· Paul “Bear” Bryant, Kentucky, Alabama: 323-85-17, .780

· Wally Butts, Georgia: 140-86-9, .615

· Jerry Claiborne, Kentucky: 179-122-8, .592

· Doug Dickey, Tennessee, Florida: 104-58-6, .637

· Bobby Dodd, Georgia Tech: 165-64-8, .713

· Jim Donnan, Georgia: 104-40, .722

· Vince Dooley, Georgia: 201-77-10, .715

· Pat Dye, Auburn: 153-62-5, .707

· Bill Edwards, Vanderbilt: 168-45-8, .778

· Danny Ford, Arkansas: 122-59-5, .669

· Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee: 152-52, .745

· Ray Graves, Florida: 70-31-4, .686

· Lou Holtz, South Carolina: 249-132-7, .651

· Biff Jones, LSU: 87-33-15, .700

· Ralph “Shug” Jordan, Auburn: 145-83-7, .632

· Charlie McClendon, LSU: 137-59-7, .692

· Dan McGugin, Vanderbilt: 197-55-19, .762

· Allyn McKeen, Mississippi State: 78-25-3, .750

· Bernie Moore, LSU: 95-51-9, .642

· Ray Morrison, Vanderbilt: 155-130-33, .539

· Robert Neyland, Tennessee: 173-31-12, .829

· Gary Pinkel, Missouri: 191-110-3, .633

· Darrell Royal, Mississippi State: 184-60-5, .749

· Red Sanders, Vanderbilt: 102-41-3, .709

· Steve Spurrier, Florida, South Carolina: 228-89-2, .718

· Gene Stallings, Alabama: 97-61-2, .613

· Frank Thomas, Alabama: 141-33-9, .795

· Johnny Vaught, Ole Miss: 190-61-12, .745

· Bowden Wyatt, Tennessee: 99-56-5, .634

Like Leach, three of these coaches do not meet the .600 winning percentage requirement for Hall of Fame consideration. But that requirement has not always been in place. Alexander joined the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of its inaugural class in 1951. Morrison was a member of the Class of 1954, and Claiborne a member of the Class of 1999.

Coaches (including active coaches) who have worked in the SEC and have met the 10-year, 100-game and .600 winning percentage requirements but are not members of the College Football Hall of Fame include (with on-the-field records):

· Bret Bielema, Arkansas: 110-70, .611

· Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M: 122-44, .735

· Dennis Franchione, Alabama: 213-135-2, .611

· James Franklin, Vanderbilt: 102-51, .667

· Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss: 103-48, .682

· Bryan Harsin, Auburn: 85-36, .702

· Brian Kelly, LSU: 294-101-2, .743

· Lane Kiffin, Tennessee, Ole Miss: 84-46, .662

· Gus Malzahn, Auburn: 94-47, .667

· Harry Mehre, Georgia, Ole Miss: 98-60-7, .615

· Urban Meyer, Florida: 187-32, .854

· Les Miles, LSU: 145-73, .665

· Dan Mullen, Mississippi State: 103-61, .628

· Charley Pell, Florida: 84-43, .655

· Bobby Petrino, Arkansas: 137-71, .659

· Nick Saban, LSU, Alabama: 285-69-1, .804

· Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M: 95-63, .601

· Tommy Tuberville, Ole Miss, Auburn: 159-99, .616

Leach’s situation is similar to that of another former Mississippi State coach. Jackie Sherrill’s overall record was 180-120-4 – a .599 winning percentage.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.