In college sports, the coaches are kings. So who rules this football-mad state? We examine by ranking the men at the top each of the 12 Football Bowl Subdivision programs in Texas:

1. Gary Patterson, TCU

Jan 2, 2016; San Antonio, TX, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson (right), talks with safety Nick Orr (18) during the 2016 Alamo Bowl against the Oregon Ducks at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports (Kirby Lee / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Patterson controls his little fiefdom in Fort Worth, leading the Horned Frogs to ten 10+-win seasons since he succeeded Dennis Franchione at the end of the 2000 season. Patterson has been able to maintain a top-flight program while shepherding the small private school into the Big 12 with few hiccups. That is no small achievement. But it's par for the course under Patterson, who has defied expectations every step of the way.

2. Art Briles, Baylor

Baylor head coach Art Briles paces the sidelines during a timeout during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against SMU at Ford Stadium on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News) (The Dallas Morning News)

Baylor was a laughingstock before Briles arrived before 2008 season. Briles put a charge into the dormant program nestled next to the Brazos with an electrifying offense that catapulted Robert Griffin III to the Heisman Trophy in 2011 and the Bears to a BCS bowl appearance two seasons later. In short time, Briles has made Baylor into an attractive destination for recruits, which is nothing short of amazing considering where things stood a short time ago.

3. Tom Herman, Houston

Dec 31, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Houston Cougars head coach Tom Herman looks on from the sidelines against the Florida State Seminoles in the fourth quarter in the 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome. The Cougars won 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports (Brett Davis)

Tom Herman's days in Houston are probably numbered. But that's not because he has underperformed. Quite the contrary, in fact. Herman figures to have plenty of suitors in the near future after he led Houston to a 13-1 record in his first season there. The Cougars were ranked No. 8 the final AP poll - their first Top-10 finish since the Run-and-Shoot days of 1990. Herman just got a substantial raise, but how long can Houston keep him?

4. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech

Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Kliff Kingsbury in action against the Southern Methodist Mustangs in NCAA college football action at SMU's Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas on Friday, August 30, 2013. (Brad Loper/The Dallas Morning News)

Kingsbury has gained more attention for his appearance than his work on the sideline since he returned to his alma mater in 2013. But Kingsbury is doing a decent job in Lubbock, a place that top talent avoids. He has a .500 record and has taken Texas Tech to two bowls despite staff upheaval and recruiting shortfalls. If the dust ever settles in Lubbock - which it seems to rarely do out there - he just may be able to accrue some momentum.

5. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M

Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin walks off the field field an NCAA football game between Alabama and Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas Saturday October 17, 2015. Texas A&M Aggies lost to Alabama Crimson Tide 23-41. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News) (The Dallas Morning News)

These are rocky times in Aggieland, and it appears Kevin Sumlin will enter next season occupying the hot seat. Sumlin can't keep his quarterbacks on campus for very long, and the departures of Kyler Murray and Kyle Allen have created a climate of instability. Recent coordinator changes on both offense and defense also foment the impression that something isn't right at the top. It's why the 11-win season Sumlin had in his first season is now just a distant memory.

6. Charlie Strong, Texas

Texas Head Coach Charlie Strong watches his players during the warm-up before the kick-off against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News) (The Dallas Morning News)

Strong was dealt a bad hand when he arrived in Austin. The program was unraveling in Mack Brown's final days, and there was a dearth of talent on the roster. But Strong hasn't exactly overachieved in the face of these obstacles. He has posted losing records in each of his two seasons at the helm of the Longhorns, and the folks in Austin are getting restless.

7. David Bailiff, Rice

Rice University's #15 Jordan Taylor gets a hug from his head coach David Bailiff as he gets a MVP award during 2012 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at Amon Carter Stadium, at TCU, in Fort Worth, TX on December 29, 2012. (Kye R. Lee/The Dallas Morning News)

Bailiff doesn't generate much pub. But that's because he coaches Rice - the academic powerhouse that dabbles in football. Since he became the head coach there in 2007, he has led the Owls to three bowl victories and two 10-win seasons. Those are some nice bullet points on the resume.

8. Chad Morris, SMU

Southern Methodist Mustangs head coach Chad Morris joins his players for the school song following an NCAA football game between Tulsa and SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas Saturday October 31, 2015. Tulsa Golden Hurricane beat Southern Methodist Mustangs 40-31. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News) (The Dallas Morning News)

A quick survey of Chad Morris would yield an impression that he could be the next Art Briles. But right now he resembles Phil Bennett. Morris, in his first season with the Mustangs, went 2-10. His program is saddled with a roster that lacks talent and a defense that has more holes than a pumice stone. Morris has his work cut out for him on the Hilltop.

9. Sean Kugler, UTEP

Sean Kugler looks like a strength and conditioning coach. He's got the big frame, the bald head and the goatee to boot. But he hasn't been able to make UTEP any more powerful. He's 14-23 in three seasons with the Miners. But the record offers a glimpse at the state of a program that has had one winning season in the last 10 years.

T-10; Seth Littrell, North Texas

Seth Littrell speaks at a news conference where he was introduced as the new University of North Texas football head coach, Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas. (David Minton/Denton Record-Chronicle via AP)

Littrell has yet to coach a game at North Texas. But he is charged with putting the pieces of devastated program back together. The Mean Green finished 1-11 in 2015 and lost 66-7 to Portland State of the FCS. A major rebuilding project is underway in Denton.

T-10; Frank Wilson, Texas-San Antonio

Wilson was just hired at this recent college football newcomer, taking over for Larry Coker, who had resigned. Wilson's forte is recruiting and the former LSU running backs coach will have to be aggressive in his pursuit of talent to breathe life into a program that went 7-17 the last two seasons.

T-10; Everett Withers, Texas State

James Madison head coach Everett Withers talks with James Madison quarterback Vad Lee (2) after they scored late to take the lead on SMU in the second half of their college football game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas, Saturday, September 26, 2015. Garland defeated Sachse 38-34. Mike Stone/Special Contributo

Withers takes over for Dennis Franchione, who retired after his career endured an exaggerated descent into irrelevance. Withers was 19-7 at James Madison, an FCS school whose talent base probably isn't all that different from Texas State, which recently made the transition to college football's highest level.