Arkansas

Yurachek’s Vested Interest in Two Schools Keeps Him Out of Discussion if Happens

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2024

Yurachek’s Vested Interest in Two Schools Keeps Him Out of Discussion if Happens

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek was appointed to the College Football Playoff Committee in February. Now he will have to leave the room if the Razorbacks are being discussed which is understandable.

Yurachek was hired by the Razorbacks in December 2018 after the firing of Jeff Long the month prior. He brought the Hogs into its most successful three-year run in all sports finishing top-15 in the Director’s Cup. Prior to this feat, the Hogs had only finished in the top-15 once in 24 years. Former Hogs coach Ken Hafield was on the selection committee starting in 2018.

Long, also served as chairman of the committee from 2014-2016 which makes Yurachek Arkansas’ second representative on the committee since its inception a decade ago.

The committee has a recusal policy in place who are affiliated with a school being discussed. For Yurachek, not only does he have to leave the room for Arkansas but also fellow SEC member South Carolina and here’s why.

“If a committee member or an immediate family member, e.g., spouse, sibling or child, (a) is compensated by a school, (b) provides professional services for a school, or (c) is on the coaching staff or administrative staff at a school or is a football student-athlete at a school, that member will be recused.“

“A recused member shall not participate in any votes involving the team from which the individual is recused. A recused member is permitted to answer only factual questions about the institution from which the member is recused but shall not be present during any deliberations regarding that team’s selection or ranking. Recused members shall not participate in discussions regarding the placement of the recused team into a bowl game.”

His son, Ryan, is an assistant tight ends coach for the Gamecocks. He sits under former Razorback quarterback and assistant coach, Dowell Loggains, who is South Carolina’s offensive coordinator.

The younger Yurachek was a standout tight end for Marshall from 2014-2017. He recorded 1,354 yards receiving and 26 career touchdowns.

After his college career, he signed multiple contracts with NFL teams like the Saints, Raiders and Cowboys beginning in 2018. After his stint at the professional level, Yurachek was hired at Arkansas as a graduate assistant from 2020-2021.

ESPN Football Power Index isn’t very high on the Razorbacks or Gamecocks going into the season. South Carolina (2.6%, No. 13 SEC) and Arkansas (1.7%, No. 14) have very low odds to make the newly expanded 12-team playoff anyway.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

Published

6 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.

RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.

“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”

The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.

RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.

“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.

“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”

Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.

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