CFP Exec Dir Bill Hancock this weekend said having a four-team playoff "lets us keep this magical and compelling regular season," adding he does not "believe or envision our leaders wanting to do anything" to negatively affect the regular season, according to Matt Murschel of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Hancock: "We have a 12-year contract with the four-team tournament so we have nine more years after this year." Hancock noted the CFP will have to replace some selection committee members, including Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson, whose "terms expire" after this year. Hancock noted the CFP also has a "fourth position to fill," as former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is "unfortunately having to step down because of a health issue." Hancock: "We hope to have them filled by February but we’re not in a hurry" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/9). Clemson AD Dan Radakovich, who serves as a member of the CFP selection committee, said that four teams is the "right number moving forward." Radakovich: "That’s really not our purview. But coming here and being part of this for two years, moving all the people and getting the bands here, four is about it." In Baton Rouge, Scott Rabalais noted a big question in Radakovich’s mind "would be where the four CFP quarterfinal games would be played." He said, "That might be the only alternative, to play on campus. But I think where we are right now is good. Four is good" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 1/8).
GROUP THINK: In Annapolis, Bill Wagner noted Navy AD Chet Gladchuk and AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco are in "total agreement with regard to a proposal for a Group of Five playoff." Gladchuk said, "It's absolute lunacy. In my opinion, it's a non-starter. I can't imagine there would be any interest in creating some sort of secondary competition of this nature." Aresco said, "From an American Athletic Conference standpoint, this would be a major step backward. It's not the direction we're going. We can consider ourselves a P6 conference." Aresco will "continue to promote" the AAC champion as "worthy of consideration" for the CFP. He said, "I certainly don't believe it's impossible for the American to be part of the College Football Playoff. We know it's going to be very difficult as college football is currently constituted for us to get into the playoff. We all accept it and understand it, but we are also working very hard to change it" (Annapolis CAPITAL GAZETTE, 1/7).
