Report: CFB Officials to Consider Implementing Neutral Replay System for CFP Games

The implementation of neutral replay officials for the College Football Playoff will be a "key agenda item" at the College Football Officiating meeting, according to CBS Sports' Dennis Dodd.

"Centralized replay would put two persons not affiliated with a conference in charge of reviewing plays for all CFP games," Dodd reported. "Bowl games and perhaps even nonconference matchups in Week Zero could be added to that list."

Dodd noted the NFL uses neutral officials to assess replay situations. During games, the on-field referee works together with replay officials stationed at Art McNally GameDay Central in New York City.

That's a stark contrast with the college game, where referee crews have specific conference designations. For example, an SEC team worked the College Football National Championship Game between Ohio State and Notre Dame.

The change makes plenty of sense since it would address the perception, however unfounded, that conference-affiliated referees might be biased in some way when they're calling a game.

Dodd reported any attempt to have neutral replay officials in the regular season "is still considered a heavy lift." Having the concept work in the CFP would seemingly increase the odds it spreads to a bigger portion of the schedule.

Dodd reported conference commissioners and other officials could discuss whether to have one appointed person be the replay overseer.

Dean Blandino, the former NFL vice president of officiating, was cited as one theoretical candidate for his role, though his duties as a rules analyst for Fox complicates things. Fox is firmly aligned with the Big Ten thanks to the seven-year, $7 billion contract the parties signed in 2022.