College football's 20 best coaches not named Nick Saban

College football’s 20 best coaches not named Nick Saban

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks into his AT&T headset during the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Clemson Tigers on January 1, 2018, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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Texas Christian head coach Gary Patterson prepares to lead his team onto the field against Stanford in the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017. (Rodger Mallison/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) /

Why does everyone always overlook Gary Patterson at TCU? Not only has he been at the program since 2000, showing extreme loyalty to the Horned Frogs when most other successful coaches would have bolted by now, but he’s done nothing but win consistently.

What’s even more impressive is the fact that he’s won a conference title in each of the three conferences he’s coached a full season in. That’s Conference USA, Mountain West and now the Big 12 — he has a total of six conference titles as head coach of TCU.

Before Patterson got to TCU, the Horned Frogs didn’t see nearly the amount of success they’ve seen with him. He has 10 of the program’s 16 bowl wins and half of its postseason appearances.

Patterson has 11 seasons of 10-plus wins and has missed a bowl game just twice in his head coaching career.

Many believed he would be overwhelmed by joining a Power Five conference, but he has a Big 12 title under his belt and a 51-27 overall record in the six seasons since joining the league.

Underrated at No. 4? Absolutely.