Who is the best major-college football coach who has never won a national championship?

I was asked this Monday by a sportswriter in Virginia who covers Virginia Tech.

Obviously, he was fishing to see how many votes (he sent the question to fellow AP Top 25 voters) Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer would get.

I didn't pour my heart and soul into this mission, but I made a quick checklist and came up with five top candidates. You tell me the order you'd rank them. Your criteria can be whatever you want it to be. If I have a glaring or semi-glaring omission, let's hear it.

Beamer: 187-92-2 at Virginia Tech, 3 Big East and 3 ACC titles.

Mark Richt, Georgia: 90-27 record, averages 10 wins a year, two SEC and four SEC East titles, two-time SEC Coach of the Year.

Chris Petersen, Boise State: This name may get scorned here, but he has a 49-4 record and two BCS bowl wins in his four years.

Bill Snyder, Kansas State: 142-74-1 record, one Big 12 and four Big 12 North titles, five-time conference Coach of the Year, though the last one was in 2002.

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: 81-55 record, two Big Ten titles, three Big Ten Coach of the Year awards, four Top Ten finishes.