Mizzou icon Gary Pinkel and former Tigers Athletic Director Mack Rhoades have been chosen to serve on the College Football Playoff committee.
In Kansas City, Missouri, Gary Pinkel, a renowned figure in Mizzou football history responsible for revitalizing the team’s status on a national level, along with a former athletic director of the school, have been selected as new members of the College Football Playoff Management Committee.
Pinkel, aged 71, achieved a record-breaking 118 victories during his 15-year tenure at Mizzou, guiding the Tigers to four conference championship games across both the Big 12 and SEC conferences, and securing bids to 10 bowl games. Twice under Pinkel’s leadership, Mizzou finished within the top five in the final Associated Press rankings.
Now, Pinkel, alongside Baylor Athletic Director Mack Rhoades, will serve on the selection committee responsible for choosing the 12 teams that will compete for the Football Bowl Subdivision title in the expanded College Football Playoff starting next season.
Rhoades, aged 58, previously served as Mizzou’s athletic director from 2015 to 2016, overseeing the transitional period following Pinkel’s retirement before moving to Waco, Texas.
Pinkel holds the title of the winningest coach in Toledo’s history and was honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Warde Manuel, the Athletic Director of Michigan, has been appointed as the committee chair for 2024, taking over from Boo Corrigan of North Carolina State.
Other newly appointed members to the CFP committee include Patrick Chun, the AD of Washington State, former Arizona State standout Randall McDaniel, Carla Williams, AD at Virginia, and Hunter Yuracheck, AD at Arkansas. These appointments were announced by CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock on Thursday.
Hancock expressed confidence in the new additions, highlighting their expertise, enthusiasm, and integrity, which he believes will complement the returning members of the committee.
Hancock, aged 73 and residing in the Kansas City area, disclosed his intention to retire in February 2025 back in June.
Will Shields, a Pro Football and Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Famer, who joined the committee in 2021 for a three-year term, will continue his tenure for another year.
The terms of Boo Corrigan, Mitch Barnhart, Mark Harlan, Gene Taylor, Joe Taylor, and Rod West have concluded.
