CFP exec Rich Clark: Coaches, commissioners 'hurting the sport' with criticism of selection committee

ATLANTA – College Football Playoff executive director Rich Clark has loved his job in his first year as the CFP underwent dramatic changes to the 12-team format. But there was one part he did not appreciate.

When asked about the public criticism the 15-member selection committee took not only from fans but coaches and commissioners – notably Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin and ACC and Big 12 commissioners Jim Phillips and Brett Yormark – he was atypically undiplomatic.

“I was disappointed to hear people who know the game and know what the committee is up against and the tough choices they have to make criticizing them,” Clark told Sporting News on Friday before Monday’s championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame. “I sat through every deliberation and I know they took it to the mat and they made sure they were making choices that were not parochial. They considered strength of schedule. They did it as well as it could have been done.”

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Clark specifically praised committee chairman Warde Manuel, Michigan’s athletic director, for his ability to pull opinions out of all members and make sure “everything was on the table.”

The backlash the committee faced this season was predictable when the field was announced, but what was not predictable was the length of time discussions continued. Even after the first round of the CFP, debates still raged and the committee remained under fire long after Selection Sunday.

“I totally agree that they are hurting the committee and hurting the sport when they do that,” Clark said of coaches and commissioners. “However, I also know coaches and commissioners have their constituents that they are speaking to when they are levying those criticisms. They are speaking to their base.”

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Possible changes to 2025 College Football Playoff

The commissioners and Notre Dame’s athletic director will meet Sunday in Atlanta for 90 minutes for the first time since the playoff began in December and lay the groundwork for potential tweaks for 2025-26. Any format changes will require a unanimous vote, so immediate change is unlikely, though two areas will likely be addressed Sunday and in the coming months.

“I think almost universally, people liked the first round games on campus,” Clark said. “That was a big hit and people really loved it. Universally, people thought we should take a look at how we are seeding. I know the commissioners have that in mind, to at least take a look at it. Those are the two biggest areas I’ve gotten feedback on. Over the next couple of months, they will look at these things and decide what, if any changes need to happen.”

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NFL goes head-to-head with the CFP

The CFP calendar has been an area of concern with the games running simultaneously with the NFL playoffs. Two first-round games were held head-to-head with NFL regular-season games, and the CFP semifinals and final have been held on a Thursday, Friday and Monday night to avoid conflicts with the NFL playoffs.

“It is not fun, but we just have to coexist,” Clark said. “The NFL is an amazing enterprise and we know their fan draw is huge, but we also have a good draw and fanbase. We will still present to our fans and let them make their choices. We’re going to try to coexist and we will work with the NFL to get to that win-win situation where we are both maximizing the opportunity for people to participate and watch our games. We will have to work with them.”

Ohio State and Notre Dame both played their final regular season game 51 days ago. The NFL has 35 days between its final regular season game and the Super Bowl. Altering the calendar to have the season end earlier will also likely be one of the items to be discussed by the commissioners.