College Football Playoff selection committee releases schedule

The College Football Playoff selection committee has released its schedule for its 2021 season, including the first release on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. ET. The committee will release its updated rankings each week leading up to the selection show on Dec. 5 at noon ET. All rankings will be revealed on ESPN at the scheduled time.

The CFP format is entering its eighth year, maintaining its original four-team playoff format which leads to a national championship game in early January. This year’s semifinal matchups are set to take place at the Cotton Bowl and the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31, and the national championship will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Jan. 10, 2022.

Release schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 7-8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 9-9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN*

Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 7-8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Tuesday, Nov. 23 from 7-8 p.m. ET on ESPN

Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 7-7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Sunday, Dec. 5 from noon-4 p.m. ET on ESPN

* Nov. 9’s reveal will take place between games during the State Farm Champions Classic doubleheader at approximately 9 p.m. ET.

Playoff committee

The CFP selection committee meets in person on Mondays and Tuesdays ahead of each release, holding votes on the top-four teams in the playoff as well as the top-25 teams in the country.

In total, 13 members, representing seven conferences, make up the committee. The members range from current athletic directors to former players and former reporters.

The committee held its first meeting of the season this week and released the following statement:

“It was good to have the full group together for the first time this year and to review all of our procedures in detail,” said Gary Barta, athletic director at Iowa, who will be returning for his second year as committee chair. “We feel good about the process the committee has followed during the first seven years of the College Football Playoff, and the selection committee is looking forward to the start of our eighth season.”

There has already been overturn in the committee panel after Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte removed himself as the Big 12 representative and Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor filled his spot.

Other notable members include former Nebraska guard Will Shields, former Penn State guard John Urschel and former Arizona Republic reporter Paola Boivin.