And David Cutcliffe is the Walter Camp Coach of the Year.

The foundation announced the news Thursday. Cutcliffe was selected over other finalists, Auburn’s Gus Malzahn and Missouri’s Gary Pinkel.

The Blue Devils are 10-2 and captured their first Coastal Division title.

“Coach Cutcliffe is more of a mentor than a coach to me and the rest of my teammates,” Duke quarterback Anthony Boone said. “It’s been great, just learning how to be a better quarterback and a better man. What makes him special is that he actually cares; that he’s a genuine guy. Everything he says, you can take to heart.”

In six seasons at Duke, Cutcliffe is 31-42 and will take the Blue Devils to their second bowl game in as many seasons. 


BROWN CONTINUES AT TEXAS


Texas coach Mack Brown has had a running joke all week: He is the only coach in America playing for a conference championship while also shrugging off speculation that he could be replaced.

That perfectly sums up the drama surrounding Brown and a team who have fought their way through a topsy-turvy season of embarrassing losses and big wins and now find themselves on the verge of a Big 12 title in the final game of the regular season.

The No. 23 Longhorns (8-3, 7-1) play at No. 9 Baylor (10-1, 7-1) with at least a share of the conference title at stake. For either team, a win coupled with an Oklahoma State loss — the Cowboys beat both in November — will earn the victor the crown outright.

For Brown — and Texas fans — the bigger drama may be what comes after the game.

Brown's future has been the subject of intense speculation nearly all season. A 1-2 start with a team that even Brown expected would contend for a national championship was coupled with revelations that as far back as January, some top school officials and donors were courting Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Brown said this week he hasn't talked to his team about his job future.

"This is about these kids and it's about this team and I'm very unimportant and have absolutely not mentioned it," Brown said. "I did not mention it after Ole Miss, Brigham Young. I just said, 'Let's go back to work.'"

Brown said he talked briefly about his future with his staff, but only in a way to keep them focused on the turning the season around.

"Hey, we can all lay down, feel sorry for ourselves because we didn't do our job in the first three ballgames, or we can all go back to work, pull this thing in tight and pick these kids up and be the team that we thought we were going to be in preseason," Brown said.


CAL REACHES NAMING-RIGHTS DEAL


The University of California has agreed to a nearly $18 million deal with Internet video game maker Kabam for the naming rights to the field at Memorial Stadium.

The school announced the 15-year deal on Thursday that will make its home field known as "Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium."

The field name will be placed on the two 25-yard lines of Kabam Field. Kabam will also receive 50-yard-line signage above the Cal bench and additional directional signage at the stadium. The on-field logos and signage are expected to be unveiled this spring.

Kabam co-founder and CEO Kevin Chou is a Cal alum and says he is excited about the partnership. Kabam was recently named the fastest growing Internet media company in the Bay Area for the second consecutive year.

Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press