College Football Playoff Facing Major Decision After Second Rankings Reveal

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Nov 13, 2025 3:46 PM ET

On Tuesday, the College Football Playoff selection committee revealed its second set of rankings. An unchanged top five was dominated by Big Ten and SEC teams. Ohio State remained No. 1, followed in order by Indiana, Texas A&M, Alabama and Georgia.

Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas, Miami and South Florida accounted for the other seven teams projected to make the 12-team CFP playoff bracket after Week 11 of the 2025 season.

Splitting hairs between the best teams in college football is a hard enough directive by itself. The CFP was tasked with another big decision after Baylor athletic director and CFP chairman Mack Rhoades stepped away from both roles on Thursday.

Baylor Bears athletic director Mack Rhoades reacts at a press conference during the 2016 Big 12 Media Days at Omni Dallas Hotel.Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

According to ESPN's Heather Dinich, CFP executive director Rich Clark said Rhoades "will step down from his role with the committee at this time for personal reasons."

Baylor University received allegations involving Rhoades on Monday, with ESPN's Adam Rittenburg reporting that they did not involve Title IX, student welfare, NCAA rules or any incidents within the football program.

Regardless of the reason for Rhoades stepping away, it leaves the CFP with multiple roles to fill on the committee with just three rankings left before the sixth and final CFP rankings reveal on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Power Shift on CFP Committee: Who Will Replace Mark Rhoades?

According to ESPN, replacements have already been nominated to fill Rhoades' roles as a committee member and as chair. Utah athletic director Mark Harlan is nominated to replace him on the selection committee, while Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek is the nominee to be the new chair.

If Harlan is selected, he would represent a straight swap for another Big 12 athletic director on the committee. Yurachek's possible elevation to chairman would put an SEC-affiliated voice in the hot seat.

Both changes would have to be approved by the CFP management committee, which is made up of the 10 FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua.

Rhoades was in his first season as chairman, succeeding Michigan AD Warde Manuel. In 2024, the committee led by Manuel selected four playoff teams from the Big Ten, three from the SEC, two from the ACC and one from the Big 12 along with Notre Dame and Boise State.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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