The countdown to the College Football Playoff has officially began… We’re throwing out the computers, the formulas and books by Dan Wetzel, because starting in 2014, the championship participants will be seeded by the Selection Committee.

To help get you acquainted with the entire process, we’ve got the full roster of the Selection Committee available to you so you can meet the folks who get to decide your team’s fate. We’ve got each member’s official bio, but also a few anecdotes that you may or may not know…

jefflong

Jeff Long, Committee Chairman

  • Vice Chancellor And Director Of Athletics, University Of Arkansas-Fayetteville
  • 35 years college football experience as assistant coach, student-athlete and administrator

Jeff Long has arguably had the most interesting three consecutive coaches of any administrator. When the Committee needs a break, Long can entertain the others with stories of Bobby Petrino, John L. Smith and Bret Bielema.

archie

Archie Manning

  • Former University Of Mississippi Quarterback And All-Pro NFL Quarterback
  • Member of the College Football Hall of Fame

It’s a shame that Archie bailed on the opening round of the selection committee, as now there’s nobody to keep Oliver Luck in check during story time about his son’s on-field heroics. Archie will be back for 2015.

barry

Barry Alvarez

  • Director Of Athletics, University Of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Member of the College Football Hall of Fame
  • 38 years college football experience as head coach, assistant coach, student-athlete and athletics director

We’ll be keeping an eye on Alvarez as he likely attempts to seed the Final Four with 4 power run teams and jockey to dethrone Jeff Long as Committee Chair.

condi

Condoleezza Rice

  • Stanford University Professor, Former Stanford Provost
  • Former United States Secretary Of State

Likely too smart for the other members of the Committee, Condi will need to tone down her advanced vocabulary if she is to engage in any meaningful dialogue with the group. We wouldn’t mind if Condi’s first act as SEC Commissioner is to ensure the SEC gets two teams in to the playoff.

haden

Pat Haden

  • Director Of Athletics, University Of Southern California
  • Two-time college football national championship winner as quarterback for the University of Southern California

Pat Haden’s experience is broad and deep. He’s had his hands in broadcasting, athletics and private equity. He’s also not afraid to shout at a referee, so tempers may flare during Committee deliberations.

jernstedt

TOM JERNSTEDT

  • Former NCAA Executive Vice President
  • Served as senior-level executive, including executive vice president, deputy executive director and chief operating officer, throughout 38-year NCAA career (1972-2010).

Likely the token member of the Committee of whom you haven’t heard. As such, we’ve got no comment on Tom, but we trust he’ll perform his duties diligently.

mike

LIEUTENANT GENERAL MIKE GOULD

  • Former Superintendent Of The United States Air Force Academy
  • Retired three-star general and highly decorated Air Force officer

Should Condi’s negotiations with a foreign power fail to provide a lasting peace solution, Lieutenant General Mike Gould will be able to lead the invasion.

oliverluck

Oliver Luck

  • Director Of Athletics, West Virginia University.
  • Two-time team MVP and record-setting quarterback for West Virginia University. NFL quarterback for the Houston Oilers.

Oliver Luck will likely be too busy fielding autographs of his famous son to provide any quality input during deliberations.

osborne

Tom Osborne

  • Former Head Coach And Director Of Athletics, University Of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Three college football national championships, 12 Big 8 conference championships and one Big 12 championship

The accomplished Tom Osborne is indeed a logical fit for the first Selection Committee. However, should Nebraska get into the playoff, look for Osborne jump ship and to take another shot at the Governorship.

rada

DAN RADAKOVICH

  • Director Of Athletics, Clemson University
  • 30 years college football experience as student-athlete, athletics director and associate athletics director. Athletic administrative positions at five FBS institutions.

Radakovich agreed to join the Committee under the condition that the term “Clemsoning” would not be used during Committee deliberations.

tranghese

Mike Tranghese

  • Former Commissioner Of The Big East Conference. Longest-serving commissioner of the Big East Conference
  • Leading manager of the launch of Big East football in 1991

If this were the March Madness Selection Committee, Tranghese would be a great fit. His experience leading the rise of the Big East as a power basketball conference would pay dividends if this were not football.

tyrone

Tyrone Willingham

  • Former Head Coach Of Three FBS Institutions.
  • Coached at seven FBS programs. 36 years college football experience as head coach, assistant coach and walk-on, two-sport student-athlete.

Willingham’s distinguished run as the Head Coach of Stanford’s football team earned him his reputation, but younger fans remember his average stint at Notre Dame, and more recently, his 0-12 conclusion to a rough tenure at Washington.

wieberg

STEVE WIEBERG

  • Top college football writer for USA Today and a sportswriter for more than 30 years

With the media leading the decade long charge against the BCS, it was a savvy move to put distinguished Writer Steve Wieberg on the Committee. Can Wieberg help stave off potential controversy? Not likely.