Alabama native Ivan Maisel named to CFP committee

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee has named six new members, including Baylor athletics director Mack Rhoades and Alabama native Ivan Maisel.

Maisel, a Mobile native who went to college at Stanford, spent several decades covering college football for the Dallas Morning News, ESPN, On3 and other publications. He joins the committee for a three-year term along with Rhoades, former Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, Maryland AD Damon Evans, Middle Tennessee State AD Chris Massaro and former Ole Miss All-America tight end Wesley Walls.

Rhoades replaces Michigan AD Warde Manuel as committee chairman. In addition, former CFP committee member Steve Wieberg, a former sports writer, will return to finish out the term of former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, who stepped down with one year left on his term.

“The additions of Mark, Damon, Ivan, Chris and Wesley will bring some great new voices to the selection committee as we enter our 12th season,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said. “Each of them has tremendous knowledge, passion and dedication to college football, along with outstanding character and integrity. Their skills and wide variety of experiences—from coaches and athletes to university leaders and journalists—will ensure that they will transition in with our returning members successfully. We also appreciate Steve returning for the upcoming season. His understanding and wisdom from his previous term will be a real benefit to the group.

“Finally, we are pleased that Mack will serve as chair. He was an outstanding member of the committee last year, and his demeanor and personality will serve him well in leading the group.”

The other members of the 2024 committee — former Nevada coach/AD Chris Ault, former Arizona State All-America lineman Randall McDaniel, former Oregon State coach (and Alabama graduate) Mike Riley, Miami (Ohio) AD David Sayler, Virginia AD Carla Williams and Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek — will continue to serve in 2025.