Michigan AD Warde Manuel Named Chair of College Football Playoff Committee

The College Football Playoff Committee is seeing a change ahead of the 2024 college football season. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel will serve as chair of the playoff committee, which the committee announced on Thursday.

Manuel replaces Boo Corrigan, NC State's athletic director, who served a three-year term on the committee. He's spent the last two seasons in the chair.

“We are delighted that Warde will serve as chair,” outgoing CFP executive director Bill Hancock said in a release announcing the move. “He has been a valuable member of the committee last two years and that experience will serve him well in leading the group. As a former student-athlete, he will also be a good spokesperson to let fans know how the committee reached its rankings.”

In the coming season, the committee will have a new voice as the playoff field is expanding from a four-team format to a 12-team format. This comes a season after the committee caught fire for placing Florida State at No. 5, falling just short of the playoffs despite an undefeated season. 

This is much less likely to happen in the new 12-team format, though, making things much easier for Manuel as he finishes his third and final season on the selection committee. 

“My first two years on the committee have been a great experience,” Manuel said in the release. “I have so much respect for the time and effort each committee member puts in each week because of their commitment to the game. I’m honored to be asked to serve as committee chair.”

The CFP committee will feature six new members as they are replacing former selection committee members. A new era is here for college football and the CFP.