Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark stated Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, that multiple bids for the College Football Playoff are deserved as the first rankings approach, a development that could benefit programs such as BYU and Utah. The comments come as the 13-person selection committee prepares to rank the top 25 teams to determine the 12-team postseason field.
The Selection Process
The selection committee is responsible for identifying the 25 best teams in college football and assigning the top 12 to a playoff bracket. According to the College Football Playoff, the process involves a listing step to select a pool of candidate teams, followed by a ranking step where each member ranks those teams to develop a composite ranking. This process includes seven rounds of ballots, beginning with the four teams receiving first-round byes and continuing through the remaining seeds.
Ranking Criteria
The committee evaluates teams based on four primary principles: strength of schedule, head-to-head competition, comparative outcomes against common opponents, and the availability of key players and coaches. While statistical data and game film are utilized, the committee members conduct thorough discussions during the ranking process. Rankings are revealed weekly on ESPN during the latter part of the regular season.
Utah's Role on the Committee
Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan is one of six athletic directors serving on the 13-person committee. Harlan, who serves a three-year term, previously served on the committee in 2023 and was appointed to represent the Big 12 Conference for the remainder of the 2025 selection process after Baylor Athletic Director Mack Rhoades took a leave of absence for personal reasons. Harlan's appointment was announced by CFP executive director Rich Clark on Nov. 13, 2025.
Committee Membership
To prevent conflicts of interest, the College Football Playoff maintains guidelines requiring athletic directors to be recused from voting and discussing their own schools. The committee views the inclusion of athletic directors as a way to strengthen the group's knowledge of the sport. Other members of the committee include Arkansas' Hunter Yurachek, who serves as chair, alongside athletic directors from Louisiana, Nebraska, Middle Tennessee State, and Virginia. The committee also includes former coaches Gus Malzahn, Jeff Tedford, Mark Dantonio, and Mike Riley, as well as former players Randall McDaniel and Wesley Walls, and former media member Ivan Maisel.
Playoff Format and Seeding
The 12-team playoff format includes four automatic bids for conference champions from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC, as well as one automatic bid for the highest-ranked team from the American, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, or Pac-12. The remaining seven spots are at-large bids awarded to the best remaining teams from any conference. The four highest-ranked teams receive a first-round bye, while seeds 5 through 12 play in the first round at the higher seed's home stadium.
Postseason Schedule
The 2026-27 College Football Playoff schedule includes a first round on Dec. 18, 2026, and Dec. 19, 2026, with games hosted by the higher-ranked seeds. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Dec. 30, 2026, and Jan. 1, 2027, featuring the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. The semifinals will take place on Jan. 14, 2027, and Jan. 15, 2027, at the Capital One Orange Bowl and Allstate Sugar Bowl. The postseason will culminate in the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Expertise and Oversight
The selection committee's work is critical for determining the postseason landscape. The presence of athletic directors like Harlan, who has also served on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee from 2019-2022, is intended to provide expertise in evaluating the data used to select the playoff field.
