Archie Manning steps away from playoff committee

Published Oct. 20, 2014 11:06 a.m. ET

foxsports

IRVING, Texas (AP) Archie Manning is taking a leave of absence from the College Football Playoff selection committee, which will not replace him this season and go forward with 12 members as it chooses four semifinalists for the first time.

Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock said Manning will have surgery next month to help relieve discomfort he has while moving around and will be unable to travel to the meetings.

The committee will issue its first rankings Oct. 28 and announce the four teams in the national championship field on Dec. 7. The semifinals will be Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl. The title game will be Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Mike Tranghese will take Manning's spot to work with Oliver Luck on the Mountain West and Steve Wieberg will join Tom Jernstedt in evaluating the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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