CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock comments on Warde Manuel’s status as a committee member

CFP Executive Director Bill Hancock and committee chair Boo Corrigan met with the media on a teleconference to discuss the initial CFP rankings of the season. While Ohio State was ranked No. 1 following Week 9, Michigan checked in at No. 3 behind Georgia.

During the teleconference, both Corrigan and Hancock addressed why the Wolverines landed as a top-4 team in spite of the ongoing NCAA investigation. The two leaders were also asked about Michigan AD Warde Manuel’s status on the committee.

Specifically, Corrigan and Hancock were asked if there was ever any talk about Manuel stepping down due to the ongoing investigation. Both men said there was never such a suggestion.

“No, there wasn’t any suggestion that anything change regarding Warde’s position on the committee,” said Hancock. “He was fully engaged the last two days as usual.”

“I would just add, and I know you didn’t ask me, but to Bill’s point, (Manuel) was completely engaged in everything that was going on,” said Corrigan. “Obviously, he’s recused early in the process, if you will, with our ranking, but was in the room, was engaged, was making the points that he had seen for the teams that we were talking about, was a really good committee member, as all 12 of them were.”

There was a follow-up if the committee had any concerns about someone high-ranking at Michigan remaining on the committee and whether or not Manuel’s presence had a reflection on the group’s credibility. Ultimately, Hancock said it just wasn’t any issue within the committee.

“It just wasn’t an issue, Warde brought credibility when he came to the committee and he still had it and still has it, and as Boo and I both said, he was fully engaged today,” claimed Hancock. “It’s just not an issue here.”

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.