WR Kaufman to enter NFL draft

College football: Eastern Washington University junior wide receiver Brandon Kaufman is leaving the school early to enter the NFL draft, according to a Twitter report from Patchin, Lukens and Osso on Tuesday night.

Kaufman had 93 receptions for 1,850 yards and 16 touchdowns as the Eagles (11-3) advanced to the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. He averaged 19.9 yards per catch.

Rose, Sugar will host semifinals

College football: The first semifinal games in the new college football playoff system will be played in the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2015.

The BCS conference commissioners announced the dates and rotation for all 12 years of the upcoming postseason format after a meeting on Monday.

“It was not a one-year decision, it had to be a 12-year decision,” BCS executive director Bill Hancock said. “Calendar issues, days of rest. Sugar and Rose were paired together because of the days of rest since they are playing the same day.”

Whether they are hosting a semifinal or just a marquee bowl game, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl will always be played on Jan. 1, or Jan. 2 in years in which New Year’s Day falls on a Sunday. In the eight years in which the Rose and Sugar do not host semifinals, the playoffs will kick off on New Year’s Eve or Saturday, Dec. 30.

“Those days will belong to college football,” Hancock said.

Associated Press

UTEP hires ex-WSU coach

College football: UTEP has officially hired former Washington State and Boise State assistant Jeff Choate as defensive coordinator.

Choate, a 1998 graduate of St. Maries High School, spent the 2012 season as linebackers coach at Washington State. He coached the previous six years at Boise State in various roles.

Associated Press