The College Football Playoff (CFP) has decided not to change the kickoff dates and times for the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl, despite concerns about Notre Dame having less time to prepare for their next game compared to Penn State.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had asked the CFP to consider swapping the schedule since Notre Dame’s quarterfinal game in New Orleans was delayed by a day due to a tragic terror attack. This delay has left the Fighting Irish with a tighter turnaround before facing Penn State in the Orange Bowl. However, CFP executive director Rich Clark confirmed that the schedule will remain as planned.

Clark explained that the CFP already made an adjustment by pushing back Notre Dame’s Sugar Bowl game by about 18 hours to prioritize safety and security for everyone involved. He praised officials in New Orleans and those organizing the Sugar Bowl for their efforts during a challenging time.

Notre Dame managed to secure a 23-10 victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, while Penn State had extra rest after defeating Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday night. Sankey emphasized that his request wasn’t solely about Notre Dame but about ensuring fairness for both teams. However, logistical challenges like stadium availability, existing plans, and fan travel arrangements made a schedule change nearly impossible. Texas and Ohio State are also set to play in the Cotton Bowl on January 10, and adjusting the timeline would have disrupted those preparations.

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In other news, former Purdue head coach Ryan Walters has been hired as the new defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies. Walters, who had a tough tenure at Purdue with a 5-19 record, is known for his defensive expertise. During his time at Illinois, he transformed their defense from one of the worst in the nation to one of the best, even achieving the top national ranking in scoring defense in 2022.

Washington head coach Jedd Fisch highlighted Walters’ Big Ten experience and his connections to Seattle as key reasons for the hire. Walters has a strong coaching background, having worked with teams like Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma, North Texas, Memphis, and Missouri.

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Meanwhile, Dirk Koetter has announced his retirement after serving just one season as Boise State’s offensive coordinator. The longtime coach, who spent 42 years in football and previously led Boise State as head coach, expressed concerns about the current state of college football.

Koetter shared his thoughts on social media, pointing to issues like conference realignments, transfer portal chaos, NIL (name, image, and likeness) payments for athletes, and a lack of centralized leadership as reasons for stepping away from the game. He described these challenges as signs of a sport undergoing rapid and uncertain change.

Stay tuned for more updates on college football and related stories!