Report: Big 12 recommends Utah AD Mark Harlan as Mack Rhoades replacement on College Football Playoff selection committee

On Thursday, Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades chose to step down from his role as chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee due to “personal reasons.” Per Yahoo! Sports‘ Ross Dellenger, the Big 12 is recommending Utah AD Mark Harlan to replace Rhoades.

Rhoades also took a leave of absence as Baylor’s athletic director, again citing personal reasons. The school released a statement regarding Rhoades’ decision.

“Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades is on a leave of absence for personal reasons, effective November 12,” Baylor’s statement read, per On3’s Pete Nakos. “The University will decline to comment further at this time.”

Harlan briefly served on the CFP selection committee in 2023, Utah’s final year in the Pac-12. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, ESPN’s Heather Dinich explained why Rhoades’ seat will likely be filled by a fellow Big 12 AD.

“The chair is open and the most likely scenario at this point is that they will replace Rhodes, and they would replace him with a Big 12 athletic director because that’s what he was,” Dinich said. “The most likely thing is that they’re going to get somebody who has done this before as well. So, I would expect a former committee member to rejoin the group from the Big 12.

“… What’s going to happen is the CFP is going to replace that seat, the seat of the chair, and they’ve got to do it really quickly. And what will happen is the Big 12 commissioner will nominate somebody and the committee will approve it.”

Per Dellenger, Baylor was made aware of allegations involving Rhoades. The allegations are not connected to Rhoades’ reported confrontation with Baylor tight end Michael Trigg and an unnamed Bears assistant coach that occurred on Sept. 20 during a home loss to Arizona State.

Additionally, Dellenger reported these new allegations “do not involve Title IX or any direct interaction with a Baylor athlete.” Rhoades is the second member of the usual 13-member CFP selection committee to step away this season. Arizona State alum Randall McDaniel also left the committee in mid-October for personal reasons.

The College Football Playoff selection show is on Dec. 7. Teams only have three more weeks remaining in the regular season to make their case for a bid in the CFP. While evaluating outcomes across the country, the selection committee will also be searching for someone to replace Rhoades.