A shakeup has arrived at the top of college football’s most powerful room.
On Monday, CFP executive director Rich Clark announced that Nebraska athletic director Troy Dannen and longtime administrator Jeff Long have officially joined the CFP Selection Committee.
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Their job? Help decide who makes the playoff — and who doesn’t.
Dannen is still relatively new in Lincoln, entering just his second year with the Cornhuskers.
But his reputation as a forward-thinking program builder stretches back to his work at Tulane and Northern Iowa.
Now he steps into one of the most influential positions in college football.
Long, meanwhile, brings over four decades of experience, with high-level stops at Kansas, Arkansas, and Pitt.
This isn’t his first time on the CFP stage — he chaired the very first selection committee back in 2014, making him one of the few people who truly understands the process from the inside.
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The timing of the move is important. The 12-team College Football Playoff officially debuted last season, and it delivered on the hype.
More access, more drama, and a clear payoff as Ohio State beat Notre Dame to win the first-ever expanded national title.
Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
With higher stakes and more teams in play, the selection process matters more than ever.
Dannen and Long will be responsible for evaluating résumés, settling close calls, and ultimately shaping the road to the title game.
The committee’s decisions shift the sport, and Monday’s announcement signals that the CFP is continuing to evolve with a blend of fresh energy and veteran insight.
Related: Joel Klatt Reveals Post-Spring College Football Top 25 Rankings
