Utah AD changes USC AD on CFB committee

• Heather Dinich, ESPN Elder WriterSep 4, 2023, 04:27 PM ET

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College Football Playoff choice committee member Jennifer Cohen has actually stepped down from her role with the group since of obligations in her new job as USC’s athletic director.She was replaced by

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan.” We are happy to have Mark sign up with the committee. His vast understanding and experience as a college administrator has him well got ready for this new role,”Expense Hancock, executive director of the CFP, stated in a statement. “While we are sorry Jennifer has had to step down from the committee, we definitely understand the interesting and challenging obligations she has with her brand-new position at USC.”

Cohen, who was previously Washington’s athletic director, was entering her very first season with the group charged with determining the top four teams in the field. Cohen was revealed as USC’s new athletic director in late August.

“This decision was not a simple one, as the chance to serve on the College Football Playoff Choice Committee is really an honor, and the committee members and CFP personnel are remarkable individuals,” Cohen said in a statement. “Nevertheless, to do excellent deal with the committee requires a huge quantity of time, work, research study and travel, and after making this transition, it is clear to me that now at a new organization my complete focus and energy should be on USC Athletics and on our student-athletes, coaches and personnel.”

Typically, committee members serve three-year terms, and each Power 5 conference has a sitting athletic director on the committee. Cohen had been the Pac-12’s agent and is now replaced by Harlan, together with the ACC’s Boo Corrigan (NC State), the Big Ten’s Warde Manuel (Michigan), the SEC’s Mitch Barnhart (Kentucky) and the Big 12’s Gene Taylor (Kansas State). Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk is entering his second year with the committee.

“I’m honored to serve in this important function, and I ‘d like to thank the CFP management committee for this chance.” Harlan said in a statement. “I recognize the value of this committee for college football and for our industry, and I’m eager to join the existing committee members in this dedication for the 2023 season.”

There are seven sitting athletic directors on the committee. Harlan is one of three brand-new committee members this fall, together with previous Nevada Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault and Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler.It’s not the very first time the CFP has actually had a committee member step down for different factors. Previous members with tenures that were interrupted consist of previous Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, general Ray Odierno, Archie Manning, Oliver Luck, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, former coach R.C. Slocum and previous USC athletic director Pat Haden.