Craig Thompson
Mountain West hires WCC Commissioner Gloria Nevarez

Nov. 11, 2022 12:34 PM EST
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The Mountain West hired Gloria Nevarez, who has been leading the West Coast Conference for the last five years, to be its next...

FILE - The national championship trophy is seen before a new conference for the NCAA college football playoff championship game between Clemson and Alabama, Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff voted Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, to expand the postseason model for determining a national champion from four to 12 teams no later than the 2026 season.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Venues, dates, TV, NFL: How to assemble CFP expansion puzzle

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 20, 2022 12:09 PM EDT

FILE - Craig Thompson, commissioner of the Mountain West Conference, speaks to reporters after the College Football Playoff presidents group meeting Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Grapevine, Texas. Craig Thompson, the only commissioner the Mountain West Conference has known, is stepping down after nearly 24 years in charge. The league announced Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, that Thompson's last day will be Dec. 31.(AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Mountain West Commissioner Thompson stepping down

By Pat Graham Sep. 14, 2022 02:37 PM EDT

FILE - The College Football Playoff logo is shown on the field at AT&T Stadium before the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Alabama in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 1, 2021. The university presidents who oversee the College Football Playoff voted Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, to expand the postseason model for determining a national champion from four to 12 teams no later than the 2026 season. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
CFP committee digs into feasibility of early expansion to 12

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 08, 2022 06:20 PM EDT

FILE - The College Football Playoff logo is shown on the field at AT&T Stadium before an NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 1, 2021. The College Football Playoff is set to remain a four-team format through the 2025 season after the administrators who manage the postseason failed to agree on an expansion plan before the current contracts run out. A person involved with the decision told The Associated Press on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, that the CFP management committee, comprised of 10 conference commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, met by video conference earlier this week. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
After early CFP expansion fails, job only gets tougher

By Ralph D. Russo Feb. 18, 2022 11:05 AM EST

Fans begin to fill the stands at at Lucas Oil Stadium before the College Football Playoff championship football game between Alabama and Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
CFP talks stall, dimming hopes of expansion before 2026

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 10, 2022 02:21 PM EST

FILE - The College Football Playoff logo is shown on the field at AT&T Stadium before the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Alabama in Arlington, Texas, Jan. 1, 2021. The most positive development at the latest meeting on expanding the College Football Playoff was that the people involved agreed to keep talking. There is no firm date for the next meeting, but there is one regularly schedule for January around the College Football Playoff championship game. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)
Big 12's Bowlsby: CFP expansion for 2024 'in some jeopardy'

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 04, 2021 01:18 PM EST

Stanford players run onto the field for the team's NCAA college football game against Notre Dame in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
College Football Playoff expansion talks inch forward

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 01, 2021 06:46 PM EST

Cincinnati safety Ja'von Hicks, center, recovers a fumble during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Tulsa Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
AAC commish 'vigorously' opposed to P5 protection in CFP

By Ralph D. Russo Nov. 12, 2021 12:36 PM EST

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, the trophy for the College Football Playoff championship NCAA college football game is displayed along Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach, Fla. The College Football Playoff management committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, to discuss the feedback members have received from campuses since a 12-team expansion plan was unveiled in June. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
For CFP to expand by 2024, plans need approval in 4 months

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 28, 2021 07:47 PM EDT

Alabama running back Jase McClellan (21) returns a blocked punt for a touchdown against Mercer during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
College Football Playoff expansion enters negotiation stage

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 23, 2021 03:28 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, the trophy for the College Football Playoff championship NCAA college football game is displayed along Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach, Fla. The College Football Playoff management committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, to discuss the feedback members have received from campuses since a 12-team expansion plan was unveiled in June. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
CFP expansion stalls as commissioners sort through issues

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 22, 2021 04:04 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, the trophy for the College Football Playoff championship NCAA college football game is displayed along Ocean Drive, in Miami Beach, Fla. The College Football Playoff management committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, to discuss the feedback members have received from campuses since a 12-team expansion plan was unveiled in June. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
Commissioners to share feedback on CFP expansion proposal

By Ralph D. Russo Sep. 20, 2021 06:44 PM EDT

Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff, center, and Senior Associate Commissioner for Football Operations Merton Hanks field questions during the Pac-12 Conference NCAA college football Media Day Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 ally to 'protect the collegiate model'

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 24, 2021 09:35 AM EDT

Oklahoma head football coach Lincoln Riley speaks from the stage with mannequins in the back ground during NCAA college football Big 12 media days Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
With eye on SEC, Oklahoma, Texas move toward leaving Big 12

By Ralph D. Russo Jul. 26, 2021 10:45 AM EDT

Mountain West coaches look forward to time with players

By W.g. Ramirez Jul. 21, 2021 07:35 PM EDT
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada coach Jay Norvell remembers being overcome by heartbreak last season on senior night, when each honored player was introduced with...

TCU head football coach Gary Patterson speaks during NCAA college football Big 12 media days Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Never left out again: Big 12 coaches like 12-team playoff

By Stephen Hawkins Jul. 14, 2021 05:13 PM EDT

Clemson University President Jim Clements listens to a reporters question after the College Football Playoff presidents group meeting Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Grapevine, Texas. The CFP met to discuss a proposed plan to expand the postseason format from four to 12 teams. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
College Football Playoff presidents OK expansion evaluation

By Stephen Hawkins Jun. 22, 2021 03:29 PM EDT

FILE - Alabama's Ronnie Harrison (15) breaks up a pass intended for Clemson's Artavis Scott during the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game in Glendale, Ariz., in this Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, file photo. The College Football Playoff would expand from four to 12 teams, with six spots reserved for the highest ranked conference champions, under a proposal that will be considered next week by the league commissioners who manage the postseason system, a person familiar with announcement told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 10, 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the CFP has not yet released details. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
Commissioners dig into CFP expansion; Pac-12 pushes autobids

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 18, 2021 12:52 PM EDT

FILE - Alabama's Ronnie Harrison (15) breaks up a pass intended for Clemson's Artavis Scott during the second half of the NCAA college football playoff championship game in Glendale, Ariz., in this Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, file photo. The College Football Playoff would expand from four to 12 teams, with six spots reserved for the highest ranked conference champions, under a proposal that will be considered next week by the league commissioners who manage the postseason system, a person familiar with announcement told The Associated Press on Thursday, June 10, 2021. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the CFP has not yet released details. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
College Football Playoff considering expansion to 12 teams

By Ralph D. Russo Jun. 10, 2021 02:26 PM EDT