The College Football Playoff announced six new members to the 13-member selection committee Tuesday, along with the promotion of Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades to committee chair.
The five new first-time members are former Michigan State/Cincinnati head coach Mark Dantonio, Maryland athletic director Damon Evans, longtime college football writer Ivan Maisel, Middle Tennessee athletic director Chris Massaro and former Ole Miss player Wesley Walls. All will begin three-year terms. Additionally, former USA Today writer and former selection committee member Steve Wieberg will return for a one-year term.
They join returning members in former Nevada coach/AD Chris Ault, former Arizona State player Randall McDaniel, former Oregon State/Nebraska coach Mike Riley, Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler, Virginia athletic director Carla Williams and Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek, along with Rhoades, who will be the new face to explain decisions on the ESPN ranking shows.
“The additions of Mark, Damon, Ivan, Chris and Wesley will bring some great new voices to the selection committee as we enter our 12th season,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said in a statement. “Each of them has tremendous knowledge, passion and dedication to college football, along with outstanding character and integrity. Their skills and wide variety of experiences — from coaches and athletes to university leaders and journalists — will ensure that they will transition in with our returning members successfully. We also appreciate Steve returning for the upcoming season. His understanding and wisdom from his previous term will be a real benefit to the group.”
Five members rolled off the committee this year, while former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel also stepped down after one year on the committee due to other commitments.
The upcoming selection committee season could be a newly-important one, and potentially the last in its current form. The CFP management committee, made up of the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director, have discussed potential changing the seeding for the 12-team CFP in 2025 and removing automatic byes for the top four conference champions.
In addition, a potential expanded CFP model in 2026 could include a 14-team field with 13 bids automatically doled out to teams based on conference standing, which would put far less importance on the committee. Decisions on those potential changes are expected to come at some point this year.
(Photo: Kevin Abele / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
/SI202601151081.webp?ssl=1 "Racing Bulls showcase 2026 livery at launch event in Detroit")
