The College Football Playoff Selection Committee recently named its newest members and appointed Baylor Athletics Director Mack Rhoades as chairman, and an old remark of his has reappeared online, much to the displeasure of Texas fans.
In August 2021, when Texas and Oklahoma announced their move to the SEC, Rhoades dismissed the view that Texas orchestrated the situation out of arrogance, contending instead that it was driven by a lack of self-worth.
Essentially arguing that Texas wouldn’t need the SEC if the Longhorns were as impressive as their fans claim, Rhoades’ remark—though not without merit—is hardly the impartial statement one expects from someone now tasked with deciding playoff fates, especially when the same individual who criticized Texas for switching conferences will help determine their standing in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Let’s face it—the College Football Playoff committee has never been completely impartial, as fans consistently complain about some teams receiving preferential treatment while others get overlooked. For instance, just last year it seemed like the committee was on the verge of harming the sport by selecting a three-loss Alabama over a two-loss SMU that had just contested its conference championship; while that decision was ultimately avoided, the committee’s biases are evident every season.
Rhoades’ remark is notable because it wasn’t a private comment but a public jab at a program his committee will now scrutinize—ensuring that both Oklahoma and Texas (if they’re CFP contenders) will watch his decisions closely, and if Texas appears to be treated unfairly, his comment is sure to resurface.
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