Overview
A dedicated group of high-integrity football experts, with experience as coaches, student-athletes, college administrators and journalists, along with sitting athletics directors, comprise the selection committee. Members of the selection committee are Mitch Barnhart, Gary Barta (chair), Paola Boivin, Tom Burman, Charlie Cobb, Boo Corrigan, Rick George, Will Shields, Gene Taylor, Joe Taylor, John Urschel, Rod West and Tyrone Willingham.
Selection Committee Responsibilities
- Rank the top 25 teams and assign the top four to semifinal sites.
- Assign teams to New Year’s Six bowls.
- Create competitive matchups.
- Attempt to avoid rematches of regular-season games and repeat appearances in specific bowls.
- Consider geography.
Chair
As chosen by the Management Committee, Gary Barta, Director of Athletics at the University of Iowa, serves as the Selection Committee Chair.
Members
The group is composed of some of college football’s most decorated ambassadors, including highly esteemed university administrators, former coaches, former student-athletes and sitting directors of athletics.
The current group of selection committee members has eight former college football players, two members of the College Football Hall of Fame and two members with head coaching experience at FBS institutions. Collectively, the group has achieved 21 degrees of higher learning, including seven master’s degrees and two doctorates.
Mitch Barnhart Director of Athletics
University of Kentucky
- Extensive leadership experience on the NCAA Division I Council as chair of the NCAA Competition Oversight Committee and as a member of the NCAA Division I Basketball and Baseball Committees.
- Named National Athletics Director of the Year by the Sports Business Journal in 2019.
+More
Gary Barta, Chair Director of Athletics
University of Iowa
- Currently serves on the NCAA Division I Council and is involved in the NCAA Ad Hoc Committee on Sports Wagering.
- Named Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2015-16.
+More
Paola Boivin Professor
Arizona State University
- Former newspaper reporter/columnist for The Arizona Republic.
- First female journalist to be named to the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.
+More
Tom Burman Director of Athletics
University of Wyoming
- Experience serving as the athletics director for two Division I programs.
- Has spearheaded over $100 million in facilities projects at Wyoming.
+More
Charlie Cobb Director of Athletics
Georgia State University
- Among Cobb's biggest projects during his time at Georgia State has been a $50 million transformation of Turner Field, the former Major League Baseball venue, into the home of GSU football.
- Former football student-athlete at NC State.
+More
Boo Corrigan Director of Athletics
NC State
- Experience serving as the athletics director for two FBS programs, including an eight-year stint at the helm of Army West Point.
- Named Athletics Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) in 2017.
+More
Rick George Director of Athletics
University of Colorado
- Before becoming an athletics director, experience as COO and president of business operations for the Texas Rangers and EVP/COO for the PGA Tour.
- Former football student-athlete at Illinois.
+More
Will Shields Former All-American
University of Nebraska
- College football student-athlete who won the Outland Trophy and was voted a consensus All-American at guard.
- Received the NFL's prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2003 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
+More
Gene Taylor Director of Athletics
Kansas State
- Experience at five different Division I institutions, including two as athletics director.
- Named NACDA FCS Central Region Athletics Director of the Year in 2008 and 2012.
+More
Joe Taylor VP for Athletics and Community Wellness
Virginia Union University
- Over 41 years of experience in coaching, including 30 as a head coach.
- Has led teams to four Black college national championships, 10 conference titles and 10 playoff appearances en route to being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
+More
John Urschel Former All-American
Penn State University
- College football student-athlete who was a two-time Academic All-American and the 2013 Campbell Trophy winner.
- Retired after three seasons in the NFL and now pursuing a Ph.D. in applied mathematics from MIT (expected completion in 2020).
+More
Rod West Former Student-Athlete
University of Notre Dame
- College football student-athlete who lettered three years as linebacker and tight end for the University of Notre Dame and the Fighting Irish’s 1988 National Championship football team.
- Currently serves as Group President, Utility Operations for Entergy Corporation and is a past president of the Allstate Sugar Bowl and a member of the board of directors for the National Football Foundation.
+More
Tyrone Willingham Former Head Coach
Stanford, Notre Dame, Washington
- Previously served on the College Foootball Playoff Selection Committee from 2014-17.
- Past President, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), 2008.
+More
Past Selection Committee Members
- Barry Alvarez (2014, 2015, 2016)
- Frank Beamer (2017, 2018, 2019)
- Jeff Bower (2016, 2017, 2018)
- Joe Castiglione (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Herb Deromedi (2016, 2017, 2018)
- Mike Gould (2014, 2015)
- Pat Haden (2014)
- Ken Hatfield (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Kirby Hocutt (2015, 2016, 2017; Chairman in 2016, 2017)
- Chris Howard (2017, 2018, 2019)
- Tom Jernstedt (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Bobby Johnson (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
- Jeff Long (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017; Chairman in 2014, 2015)
- Ronnie Lott (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Oliver Luck (2014)
- Terry Mohajir (2019, 2020)
- Rob Mullens (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019; Chairman in 2018, 2019)
- Ray Odierno (2019, 2020)
- Tom Osborne (2014, 2015)
- Dan Radakovich (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Condoleezza Rice (2014, 2015, 2016)
- R.C. Slocum (2019, 2020)
- Gene Smith (2017, 2018)
- Todd Stansbury (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Scott Stricklin (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Mike Tranghese (2014, 2015)
- Steve Wieberg (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
- Tyrone Willingham (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
