Texas Tech AD appointed to playoff selection committee

Published Feb. 9, 2015 12:06 p.m. ET

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Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt was appointed to the College Football Playoff selection committee Monday.

Hocutt will replace Oliver Luck, the former West Virginia athletic director who has moved to a position with the NCAA. Luck was the Big 12's pick for the selection committee last season. Each of the five power conferences in FBS has one current athletic director on the 13-member committee responsible for picking the participants for the four-team playoff that determines major college football's national champion.

Hocutt grew up in Sherman, Texas, and was a linebacker at Kansas State from 1991-94. He has previously been athletic director at Ohio University and Miami. He took over at Texas Tech in 2011. At 43, Hocutt will also become the youngest member of the selection committee.

"He will fit right in, because he is a thoughtful, hard-working person of the highest integrity," College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock said.

Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby nominated Hocutt, and he was approved by the other commissioners who make up the playoff management committee.

"I look forward to working with such a distinguished group of individuals in what has instantly become one of our nation's most successful sporting events," Hocutt said. "I sincerely appreciate the confidence that Commissioner Bowlsby and the CFP management committee have placed in me with this appointment."

The Big 12 was the one Big Five conference to get shut out of the playoff, with Baylor and TCU finishing behind Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State. Baylor coach Art Briles was critical of his team's omission and said a lack of representation from Texas was a problem.

The committee worked with only 12 members for most of last season. Former Mississippi quarterback Archie Manning stepped aside because of health issues.

Through spokeswoman Lauren Lanier, Hancock said Manning had recently told him he fully intends to return to the selection committee in 2016.

Last month, Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long was re-elected selection committee chairman.