The College Football Playoff selection committee could soon have a new leader from Fayetteville. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek has been nominated to serve as the next CFP selection committee chair, succeeding departing Baylor AD Mack Rhoades, pending approval from the CFP governing board.
Yurachek, who joined the now 11-member committee earlier this year following his 2024 appointment, would become the second chair from Arkansas in the Playoff era. Former Razorbacks AD Jeff Long notably served as the inaugural CFP committee chair from 2014 to 2017.
The leadership change comes amid sudden turmoil for the committee. Rhoades took a leave of absence from both his roles as CFP chair and Baylor’s athletic director earlier Thursday, following reports that he is under investigation by the university due to new allegations. His departure leaves a significant leadership void in the Playoff decision-making process at a pivotal time in the season.
Big 12 Recommends Another Option
The Big 12 has reportedly recommended Utah athletic director Mark Harlan to fill Rhoades’ spot on the committee, but the final decision remains uncertain. This development marks the second time this season a member of the typically 13-person committee has stepped away, following Arizona State alum Randall McDaniel’s mid-October departure for personal reasons.
Since Rhoades was an athletic director of a Big 12 school, the conference gets to recommend a replacement. The Big 12 recommended Utah athletic director Mark Harlan to fill an empty seat, since there are two empty spots on the 13-member committee. Harlan previously served as a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee in 2023.
What To Make Of The Changes This Late Into The Season
With just weeks remaining before the Playoff field is finalized, the committee faces growing scrutiny. Losing two members during the most critical stretch of the season raises questions about continuity, transparency, and stability within the selection process, particularly as the CFP prepares for major changes in the coming years.
For Arkansas, however, Yurachek’s swift nomination is a point of pride and recognition. His leadership and reputation within college athletics have made him a respected figure nationally, and his potential appointment underscores the Razorbacks’ continued influence in shaping the Playoff era.
More information is expected to emerge in the coming days as the CFP governing board reviews Yurachek’s nomination and considers the next steps for filling the remaining committee vacancies.