Texas Tech AD Kirby Hocutt named to College Football Playoff committee

Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt has been named to the College Football Playoff selection committee.

The College Football Playoff announced on Monday that Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt would join the selection committee, replacing fellow Big 12 representative and former West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck.

Luck left the committee in December to take a new job with the NCAA as executive vice president of regulatory affairs.

“I am excited and honored to join the College Football Playoff selection committee,” Hocutt said in a statement. “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. I sincerely appreciate the confidence that commissioner (Bob) Bowlsly and the CFP management committee have placed in me with this appointment.”

Bowlsby nominated Hocutt for the post, and his nomination was ratified by the Playoff management committee.

The Big 12 was at the center of a selection controversy after the conference was shut out of the inaugural four-team playoff. Co-conference champions Baylor and TCU finished ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, and were selected for New Year’s Six bowls while Alabama, Oregon, Florida State and Ohio State were picked for the playoff bracket.

Baylor coach Art Briles has been particularly outspoken about the need for more representation from "the south part of the United States" and for younger voices on the committee.

My opinion, since people are asking? I think the committee needs to be a little more regionalized with people that are associated with the south part of the United States," 

Briles said

.

"I'll say that. I'm not sure if there's a connection on there that is that familiar with the Big 12 Conference. To me, that's an issue."

Hocutt hits both of those demographics. A Texas native, he becomes the youngest member of the committee at age 41.

His Big 12 ties are broad, as well. Besides currently running the athletic department at Texas Tech, Hocutt is a former player at Kansas State and was an associate athletic director at Oklahoma from 1999-2005.