NCAA Football Playoff Selection Committee Announced

The 13 members of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee were announced today. Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff, said the members were unanimously selected by the commissioners of the conferences overseeing the new playoff. The four-team playoff will take effect next season (2014-15).

The members of the selection committee are:

Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Chair

Barry Alvarez, director of athletics, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Lieutenant General Mike Gould, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy

Pat Haden, director of athletics, University of Southern California

Tom Jernstedt, former NCAA executive vice president

Oliver Luck, director of athletics, West Virginia University

Archie Manning, former University of Mississippi quarterback and all-pro NFL quarterback

Tom Osborne, former head coach and director of athletics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Dan Radakovich, director of athletics, Clemson University

Condoleezza Rice, Stanford University professor, former Stanford provost and former United States Secretary of State

Mike Tranghese, former commissioner of the Big East Conference

Steve Wieberg, former college football reporter, USA Today

Tyrone Willingham, former head coach of three FBS institutions

"We wanted people of the highest integrity for this committee, and we got them. Every one of them has vast football knowledge, excellent judgment, dedication and love for this game," Hancock said. "They will no doubt have one of the hardest jobs in sports. But their skills and wide variety of experiences from coaches and athletes to university leaders and journalists will ensure that they will be successful. And they are committed to investing the time and effort necessary for this endeavor."

The playoff system carries the hopes of college football fans for a fairer way of determining the champion of college football. Using the BCS formula, here is what a playoff might have looked like the past three years.

2012: (1)Notre Dame vs. (4)Oregon, (2)Alabama vs. (3)Florida

2011: (1)LSU vs. (4)Stanford, (2)Alabama vs. (3)Oklahoma State

2010: (1)Auburn vs. (4)Stanford, (2)Oregon vs. (3)TCU

Collegefootballplayoff.com

Team-Selection Method:

Unlike the BCS, which uses a formula based on a combination of computer rankings and human polls to select teams, selection committee members for the new playoff will have flexibility to examine whatever data they believe is relevant to inform their decisions. Among the many factors the committee will consider are win-loss record, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and conference championships won.

Anticipated Timing of Announcements:

Although the exact timing has yet to be determined, the selection committee will meet several times in person to evaluate teams and prepare interim rankings during the regular season. It will meet again during selection weekend and will announce the pairings for the playoff.

Committee-Member Selection Process:

There were five categories of individuals: People with experience as (1) coaches, (2) student-athletes, (3) administrators, and (4) journalists, and also (5) sitting directors of athletics.

The management committee gave careful consideration to the standards for membership and identifying individuals who matched the criteria. The top-priority criterion was integrity. Among the other valued attributes was football expertise, objectivity, ability to carefully evaluate and discern information, and experience in making decisions under scrutiny. Prospective members were asked to commit significant time to the endeavor.

In the spring of 2013, each FBS conference was invited to submit a list of up to 15 potential candidates. Those individuals comprised the preliminary list of nominees. The management committee reduced that list of approximately 100 names to a shorter list. The management committee reviewed this short list and then authorized Hancock to begin contacting prospective members to gauge their interest in serving.

After discussions with prospective members, formal invitations were extended.

Current Athletics Directors on the Selection Committee:

The management committee felt strongly that the service of current athletics directors (ADs) on the selection committee was essential for its success, since ADs are experts in college football and have careers spanning different schools, conferences and levels. However, it is important to note that ADs will not be representing their respective conferences; rather, each member of the committee will represent college football as a whole. The number and ratio of the ADs on the selection committee was agreed to by the management committee.

Length of Service on Selection Committee:

Formal term limits will be established for the committee members at a later date. Generally the term will be three years, but some will be shorter and others will be longer initially, to achieve a rotation.