Jan 19, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; A general overall view of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the site of the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

It's been a busy day for the College Football Playoff, and all due to what took place off the field, rather than on it.

On Thursday morning, news broke that committee chair Mack Rhoades, the athletic director for the University of Baylor, would be stepping down and taking a leave of absence from both Baylor and the CFP, leaving the selection committee without a leader.

Rich Clark, the executive director of the CFP, told ESPN that Rhoades was stepping down from his role as committee chair for "personal reasons." Per ESPN's Heather Dinich, Baylor also received allegations against Rhoades on Monday. While Rhoades told ESPN his decision to step away from his athletics director role was initiated by him, he did not divulge any details.

Without Rhoades, the CFP committee was one member short, but they announced on Thursday afternoon that Utah Utes AD Mark Harlan would be approved to join the committee. Harlan previously served a one-year term with the committee in 2023.

While Harlan's addition fills out the committee, there was still a vacancy at the top with Rhoades stepping away. The CFP announced that Arkansas Razorbacks AD Hunter Yurachek is now being promoted to the group chair. Yurachek has served as an athletic director for 15 years and has been at Arkansas since 2017. He also had stints directing the athletic departments at Coastal Carolina (2010-15) and Houston (2015-17).

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: CFP Committee approves Utah AD Mark Harlan following Baylor AD Mack Rhoades departure

Reporting by Zachary Neel, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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