Baylor athletics director Mack Rhoades is taking a leave of absence from the university, the school announced Thursday, Nov. 13.
“Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades is on a leave of absence for personal reasons, effective November 12,” a statement from the school said. The University will decline to comment further at this time.”
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It’s unclear how it’ll affect Rhoades’ status as chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee. Rhoades initiated the leave, which started Wednesday, Nov. 12, according to Yahoo Sports.
The move comes on the heels of multiple reports citing Rhoades was involved in a recent altercation with Baylor tight end Michael Trigg, although those reports note the personal leave is separate from the incident. Rhoades was recently investigated by the school for having an issue with Trigg’s gold-colored long sleeve undershirt ahead of the Bears‘ game against Arizona State on Sept. 20.
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Rhoades has been Baylor’s athletic director since 2016, after he was hired away from Missouri, where he was athletic director from 2015-16. He was also athletic director at Houston (2009-15) and Akron (2006-09).
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The College Football Playoff committee may have to find an interim chair in the meantime, given Rhoades’ personal leave, a situation that has not occurred since its inception in 2014. Rhoades has explained the committee’s process on ESPN after each of the first two playoff rankings releases on Nov. 4 and Nov. 11.
The CFP committee had already been operating down a member, with Randall McDaniel stepping away for the 2025-26 season. The committee will reduce to 11 members if Rhoades also steps away from his CFP responsibilities.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CFP chairman Mack Rhodes taking leave of absence from Baylor
