NEW ORLEANS (March 31, 2026) – Riley Busenlener, a New Orleans native and a prominent local business leader, has been selected as the Sugar Bowl Committee's President for the 2026-27 year. He is the 68th president of the organization and will preside over the 93rd playing of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff (CFP) Semifinal on January 15, 2027.
 
"This is an exciting time in the ever-changing landscape of college football," said Busenlener. "I am honored to have the opportunity to represent the hard-working men and women of the Sugar Bowl Committee as we continue the long-standing New Orleans tradition of hosting the Allstate Sugar Bowl.  Our efforts support countless athletes across a variety of sports around the state and make meaningful, annual contributions to both the state and local economies."
 
The upcoming year will be highlighted by the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl – the seventh time that the Sugar Bowl has served as a CFP Game. It is the first time the Sugar Bowl has doubled as a CFP Semifinal in the 12-team Playoff format, which enters its third year in 2026-27. The other six CFP Games, including Playoff Quarterfinals in each of the last two years and four Playoff Semifinals during the four-team Playoff format, combined for over 122 million viewers on ESPN and brought an economic impact of over $1 billion to the region.
 
In addition to his duties with the football classic, Busenlener will oversee the Allstate Sugar Bowl's hosting and sponsorship of multiple events that meet the organization's mission in 2026. Among these events are the Manning Award, which honors college football's top quarterback; the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, which recognizes the top college football coach in the nation; the Allstate Sugar Bowl Sports Awards Banquet, which honors top local athletes across all sports; and many competitions in a wide range of youth sports. The Sugar Bowl also awards over $100,000 in scholarships on an annual basis and has worked with the College Football Playoff Foundation to provide over $5 million in funds to support area teachers since 2019.
 
The Sugar Bowl will also be focused throughout the upcoming year on preparations for the 2028 CFP National Championship, for which the organization is spearheading the hosting efforts.
 
Busenlener currently serves as the Vice President of the Valuation Advisory group for locally based Chaffe & Associates, Inc. Specializing in business valuations, M&A advisory services, capital formation and financial restructurings, Chaffe prides itself on being a trusted advisor to boards, executive officers and business owners. Busenlener joined the company as a Financial Analyst Intern in 2001. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), is Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV) by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, is an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) with the American Society of Appraisers, is Accredited in Estate Planning (AEP®) by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, and is also an attorney (JD).
 
He earned his Bachelor of Science and his Master of Accounting degrees from Florida State University and his Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Civil Law from Louisiana State University's Paul M. Hebert Law Center.
 
The Sugar Bowl Committee was founded as the New Orleans Mid-Winter Sports Association in 1934 for the purpose of promoting amateur sporting events that would stimulate tourism and have a positive economic effect on the New Orleans metropolitan area.  Over the last decade, the Sugar Bowl has had an economic impact of more than $2.5 billion for the city and state.
 
Since being elected to the Sugar Bowl Committee in 2006, Busenlener has served on a wide range of committees, including multiple years on the Bowl's Executive Committee. Additionally, Busenlener has served as a Sugar Bowl officer for the past five years and previously was the long-time chair of the Sugar Bowl's Finance Committee. 
 
Busenlener succeeds Dottie Reese, who directed the organization through the past year, and will serve with fellow officers Sam Zurik, III, President-Elect; W. Scott Duggins, Vice President; Brian A. Jackson, Treasurer; and Brian Capitelli, Secretary.  Furthermore, Walter F. Becker, Jr., the Sugar Bowl President for 2024-25, was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee, and joining the 25-member Executive Committee for 2026-27 are Erin Burns, Ryan Gaubert, Betsy Becker Laborde, and Telley Madina, Sr.
 
Outside the Bowl, Busenlener is active in the community, having served as a board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southeast Louisiana, has worked with Zeus' Rescues, Inc., and the March of Dimes, and has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Holy Cross and University of New Orleans. He has also served as a board member of the National Appraisal Standards Board of the Appraisal Foundation. Busenlener currently serves as the secretary of the New Orleans Estate Planning Council.
 
Busenlener and his wife Kathleen are the proud parents of two daughters – June and Brooke. His father John has been a member of the Sugar Bowl Committee since 1984 and served as the organization's president in 2001-02, a year highlighted by LSU defeating Illinois, 47-34, in the 68th annual Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2002.
 
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 114 Hall of Fame players, 55 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 92-year history. The 93rd Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will serve as a College Football Playoff Semifinal, will be played on January 15, 2027. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade.