Two days after Jeff Long stepped down from his powerful chair on the playoff committee, the College Football Playoff has named a successor.
Moving forward, the CFP announced in a press release, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt will serve as the chairperson of the all-important selection committee. As chairperson, the release stated, “Hocutt will set the selection committee’s agenda, run its meetings and serve as the spokesman for the committee along with” CFP executive director Bill Hancock.
“Kirby has established himself as a natural leader,” Hancock said. “His personality, his background as a Football Bowl Subdivision student-athlete and his experience make him a perfect fit to chair the committee. Jeff Long set a high bar for excellence and we know Kirby will also be a terrific chairman.”
Hocutt has been the athletic director at Tech since 2011. Prior to that, he was the AD at Miami of Florida and Ohio.
In February of last year, Hocutt was named to the selection committee. He just completed his first season in that role.
“College football continues to have a significant impact in my life and I am humbled and honored by this appointment,” said Hocutt. “Serving on the committee this past season was a tremendous experience. The thoughtful consideration, professionalism and integrity exhibited by the members of this committee speak to the level of success the College Football Playoff has shown in its brief history.”
