Boo Corrigan: Warde Manuel's absence had 'no impact' on CFP selection committee meeting

As the investigation goes on at Michigan, Wolverines athletic director Warde Manuel didn’t attend the second College Football Playoff selection committee meeting Tuesday night. He announced he was planning to stay back in Ann Arbor to monitor the situation in light of a notification of possible disciplinary action from the Big Ten.

After the reveal, CFP committee chairman Boo Corrigan addressed Manuel’s absence and said it had “no impact” on how things went in Texas.

“Before I take your questions, I want to let the group know that Warde Manuel was not able to join us this week,” Corrigan said on a post-reveal show teleconference. “This had no impact on the work of the selection committee. This is not the first time we’ve had a person miss a meeting, nor will it be the last. It just kind of happens.”

Michigan is at the center of an NCAA and Big Ten inquiry into alleged sign-stealing violations. The league issued a notice of possible disciplinary action earlier this week, and the university has until Wednesday responds. As a result, Manuel opted to sit out this week’s CFP selection committee meeting to keep his focus on the situation.

“I want to provide an update regarding my participation with the College Football Playoff Committee this week,” Manuel said in a statement. “I will not be traveling to our weekly meeting in Dallas but instead will stay in Ann Arbor, attending to important matters regarding the ongoing investigation into our football program. I look forward to being back in the room with my fellow committee members next week and every week through the end of this season.”

Boo Corrigan on Michigan: CFP committee’s job is to rank postseason-eligible teams

As things continue to unfold at Michigan, CFP selection committee chairman Boo Corrigan said as long as the Wolverines are eligible for the postseason, the committee will rank them. He reiterated that stance shortly after the reveal show when asked by Rece Davis about the matter.

“Once again, and not to be repetitive in this, our mission as a committee is to judge the teams that are eligible for postseason,” Corrigan said. “Until something changes in that, we’re going to continue to follow that track and make sure that we’re following the protocols. Again, this is not a CFP selection committee issue.”

The second CFP rankings of the year came as the Big Ten weighs a possible punishment against Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines as a result of the investigation. Connor Stalions, the staffer at the center of the NCAA and Big Ten investigation, is no longer with the program after resigning on Friday. However, the conference sent a notice to UM about possible disciplinary action on Monday, and the university has until Wednesday to respond.