The College Football Playoff Selection Committee comprises 13 members, including former coaches, players, administrators, and journalists. These individuals serve three-year terms, chosen for their diverse football knowledge. They convene weekly during the season to evaluate teams based on their performance, strength of schedule, and other vital factors.
This group ensures fairness in selecting the remaining seven out of the 12 teams for the College Football Playoff. They use the information at hand to pick the best teams in the country to compete in the College Football Playoff. The members of the committee meet every Monday and a part of Tuesday morning to assess each of their six weekly rankings.
List of College Football Playoff Selection Committee
The College Football Playoff Selection Committee consists of 13 members, each bringing expertise in college football. Their specialties and term expirations are detailed below.
Head of College Football Playoff Selection Committee
Warde Manuel is the head of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, as of the 2024-25 season, and brings a wealth of experience from his role as Michigan's Director of Athletics. He replaced Boo Corrigan whose term expired earlier in 2024 after serving two years as the group's chairman.
Manuel served in several athletic roles in Michigan's athletic department from 1996-2005. He later worked as the head of the athletics department at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo from 2005-12.
College Football Playoff Selection Committee Members
As customary, the 13 individuals on the CFP Selection Committee determine the seven teams for the 2024 playoffs. Each committee member has a single three-year term before being replaced by another prominent college football figure.
Here is the present roster of committee members, along with their impact on college football and the conclusion of their tenure on the committee. Warde Manuel presently holds the position of chairman of the committee.
Name | Position | Conclusion of tenure |
Warde Manuel | Committee chair, Michigan athletics director | February 2025 |
Chris Ault | Former head coach at Nevada | February 2026 |
Chet Gladchuk | Navy athletics director | February 2025 |
Jim Grobe | Former head coach at Ohio, Wake Forest and Baylor | February 2025 |
Randall McDaniel | Former Arizona State player | February 2027 |
Gary Pinkel | Former head coach at Toledo and Missouri | February 2027 |
Mack Rhoades | Baylor athletics director | February 2027 |
Mike Riley | Former head coach at Oregon State and Nebraska | February 2027 |
David Sayler | Miami (Ohio) athletics director | February 2025 |
Will Shields | Former Nebraska player | February 2025 |
Kelly Whiteside | Journalist | February 2025 |
Carla Williams | Virginia athletics director | February 2027 |
Hunter Yurachek | Arkansas athletics director | February 2027 |
2024 College Football Playoff Format Changes
The 2024 College Football Playoff underwent a format shift, expanding to accommodate 12 teams instead of the usual four. Among these, five will include the top-ranked conference champions, securing automatic tournament spots. Meanwhile, the selection committee will determine the remaining seven slots using the existing ranking system. These rankings will influence the seeding of teams throughout the playoff, ultimately impacting their path to the championship game.
FAQs on College Football Playoff
A: Thirteen members with diverse football backgrounds and expertise evaluate teams.
A: Each serves a single three-year term before being replaced.
A: Chris Ault, Mike Riley, and Chet Gladchuk are some of the notable members on the committee.
A. Warde Manuel is the current head of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.