Michigan’s Warde Manuel Named Chair of CFP Committee; Replaces Boo Corrigan

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has been named the chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee, per ESPN’s Heather Dinich.

Manuel replaces NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan after his term expired following a two-season tenure as the CFP selection committee chair.

Along with Manuel, former Minnesota Vikings lineman Randall McDaniel, Washington State athletic director Pat Chun, former Toledo and Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades, Virginia athletic director Carla Williams and Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek will join the committee.

In his new role, Manuel will run weekly meetings in the fall as the committee decides which teams will participate in the first 12-team playoff. He has spent the last two seasons as a member of the committee.

“We are delighted that Warde will serve as chair,” CFP executive director Bill Hancock said in a statement. “He has been a valuable member of the committee the last two years and that experience will serve him well in leading the group. As a former student-athlete, he will also be a good spokesperson to let fans know how the committee reached its rankings.”

Manuel, who has been with Michigan since 2016, had a successful 2023 season. The Wolverines finished the season undefeated and beat Washington in the CFP title game to win their first national championship since 1997.

The season did come with off-the-field distractions for Manuel and Michigan, however, as the team underwent two separate NCAA investigations that are still ongoing. Former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who left to take over as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, faced a pair of suspensions, sitting out the first three games due to alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period and missing the final three games of the regular season because of Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing saga.

Despite the tumultuous year, Michigan managed to take home the CFP title. Now, Manuel will assume leadership of the selection committee.