From commissioners to consultants, the 20 biggest figures in the sport.

1   Jim Delany      Title: Commissioner, Big Ten Conference      Since: 1989

The retirement of SEC commissioner and BCS architect Roy Kramer leaves Delany as the undisputed czar of BCS-conference commissioners. He oversees a league whose marketplace comprises more TV households than any other, he orchestrated the addition of Penn State and it was his stewardship with the Rose Bowl that allowed for the formation of the BCS.

2   Kevin Weiberg      Title: Commissioner, Big 12 Conference      Since: 1998

A rising star, Weiberg oversees a conference that finished with three of the nation's top 10 teams each of the past three seasons. As the successor to Mike Tranghese as BCS chairman in 2004, he'll be an integral figure in discussions about the next generation of college football's postseason, having led the first meeting of the BCS' presidential oversight committee in June.

3   Kevin White      Title: Director of Athletics, University of Notre Dame      Since: 2000

As the voice of college football's lone independent superpower, White holds a lot of cards, especially with Notre Dame's conference membership up in the air due to the Big East's uncertainty. The Big Ten, Big East and ACC would all love to do business with him. And so will every bowl game in the country, if the Irish's partnership with the Big East crumbles.

4   Donna Shalala      Title: President, University of Miami      Since: 2001

Following her highly visible role in the Hurricanes' decision to leave the Big East for the ACC, the former Clinton cabinet member represents the face of a constituency -- university presidents -- whose influence on the sport is growing rapidly. Just as ACC expansion was determined largely by them, not athletic directors, so too will many of the sport's most important future decisions.

5   Myles Brand      Title: President, National Collegiate Athletic Association      Since: 2003

Previous NCAA bosses wouldn't have made it this high, seeing as the NCAA has less control over football than other sports, but Brand since his Jan. 1 appointment has been more noticeably involved. He championed recent academic reforms aimed at curbing the sport's poor graduation rates and he's become an active participant in the present debate about the future of the BCS.

6   Chris Fowler, Lee Corso   and Kirk Herbstreit    Title: Host and analysts,    ESPN GameDay Since: 1996*

ESPN's flagship college football show has become such a powerful force that schools actively "recruit" the gang to broadcast from their campus on Saturday. Thousands of fans arrive hours early for the opportunity to be part of the atmosphere. And there's no question the trio's nationally televised opinions carry influence over things like the Heisman race and top 25 polls.

7   John Junker      Title: President and CEO, Tostito's Fiesta Bowl      Since: 1990

The nation's highest-paid bowl exec has helped turn a relatively young (32 years), grassroots event with an improbable location into a fixture among the sport's elite bowl group. Known for its superior hospitality, the Fiesta Bowl goes out of its way to cultivate relationships with the schools and conferences, hosting a posh golf outing each spring and other events throughout the year.

8   John Swofford      Title: Commissioner, Atlantic Coast Conference      Since: 1997

Though he didn't make a lot of friends doing it, Swofford significantly enhanced his conference's status with the addition of elite football programs Miami and Virginia Tech. Ignoring resistance from those within the league still attached to its traditional tight-knit basketball image, he pressed forward with a vision that could also soon include a championship game and/or 12th team.

9   Loren Matthews      Title: Senior Vice President of Programming, ABC Sports      Since: 1998

If you play in one of the conferences partnered with ABC -- the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12 or Pac-10 -- you make sure you're on Matthews' good side. He's the one who ultimately decides whether your game makes it on the network that week, what percentage of the country receives it and what kind of billing it gets. He and his network also have a say in BCS bowl matchups.

10   Chuck Neinas      Title: President, Neinas Sports Services      Since: 1997

When a major program has a job opening, its first call is often to headhunter Neinas. The former Big 8 commissioner runs a consulting firm that has helped place over 30 head coaches and athletic directors at schools, including Georgia's Mark Richt, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Notre Dame's Tyrone Willingham, Texas' Mack Brown and Texas A&M's Dennis Franchione.

On the cusp -- Nos. 11-20: 11. Penn State coach Joe Paterno 12. Orange Bowl CEO and Football Bowl Association Chairman Keith Tribble 13. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops 14. SEC commissioner Mike Slive 15. ESPN director of programming Dave Brown 16. Texas men's athletic director DeLoss Dodds 17. Tournament of Roses CEO Mitch Dorger 18. Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese 19. Notre Dame coach Tyrone Willingham 20. Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley

* -- 1996 is when Herbstreit joined the show. Photo credits: Delany/Big Ten, Weiberg/Big 12, Shalala/AP, Brand/AP, White/AP, Corso/ESPN, Fowler/ESPN, Herbstreit/ESPN, Junker/Dave Eskridge Photography, Swofford/ACC, Matthews/ABC Sports, Neinas/AFCA