CFP Committee Selection Process

**Inside the War Room: Unpacking the College Football Playoff Selection Committee’s Meticulous Process**

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Each fall, as the college football season intensifies, a select group of thirteen individuals gathers in a secure ballroom in Grapevine, Texas, tasked with one of the most scrutinized jobs in sports: choosing the four teams that will compete for the national title and ranking the top 25 for various prestigious bowl games. This is the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee, a body whose decisions fuel national debate and shape the trajectory of elite collegiate athletics.

The committee members, appointed to five-year terms, are typically athletic directors, former head coaches, former players, or university presidents – individuals with deep experience and understanding of the sport. Their diverse backgrounds are intended to bring a comprehensive perspective to the complex evaluation process. A strict conflict-of-interest policy is enforced; members, such as current chair Boo Corrigan (NC State Athletic Director), must recuse themselves from discussions and votes involving their own institutions to ensure impartiality.

Starting usually in late October or early November, the committee convenes weekly for two days at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Their sessions are held in a highly secure environment, specifically Ballroom D, where all personal electronic devices, particularly phones, are confiscated to prevent any outside influence or leaks. The members eat all their meals together within the conference setup, fostering a continuous, focused dialogue away from external distractions.

The selection process is a meticulous, multi-stage operation. It begins with each member individually preparing a preliminary top 30 list of teams. These initial rankings are fed into a computer system, which helps establish an initial framework for discussion. The committee then breaks into five smaller groups to delve into detailed discussions, with a particular focus on the crucial top six teams. These conversations allow members to present arguments, challenge assumptions, and gain a deeper understanding of each team’s resume.

Following these comprehensive discussions, each member individually votes again to rank those top six teams, determining their precise order. This iterative discussion-and-vote cycle continues for subsequent groups of teams – those ranked 7-12, then 13-18, and finally 19-25 – until the entire top 25 is established.

When evaluating teams, the committee considers a wide array of specifics. Members scrutinize game results, head-to-head records if teams played each other, how teams performed against common opponents, and, crucially, the strength of a team’s schedule (SOS). They also weigh significant factors like conference championships won, road performance, and the availability or impact of injuries to key players. It’s a holistic review, designed to go beyond simple win-loss records and account for the nuances of a long, competitive season.

The CFP, which replaced the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) system starting with the 2014 season, was established to provide a more subjective and committee-driven approach to national championship selection. Weekly rankings are released to the public on Tuesdays, building anticipation towards the highly anticipated final selections on Championship Sunday, the first Sunday in December. This climactic announcement not only determines the four playoff participants but also sets the matchups for the prestigious New Year’s Six bowl games.

Looking ahead, the College Football Playoff is set to expand to a 12-team format beginning with the 2024 season, a significant evolution that will dramatically alter the committee’s selection dynamics and the pathways to a national championship. The task of the thirteen individuals in Grapevine will undoubtedly grow even more complex, ensuring their decisions will remain at the heart of college football’s most intense debates. More information about the committee and its process can be found at collegefootballplayoff.com.