Pat Haden Steps Down from College Football Playoff Committee

The College Football Playoff selection committee will have 12 members for the rest of the season, as USC athletic director Pat Haden vacated his post with the brain trust Friday.   

According to a press release from CollegeFootballPlayoff.com, Haden said his recent health problems are forcing him off of the selection committee: 

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I am reluctant to step down, but my doctors advised me to reduce my traveling. With the weekly CFP meetings about to start and the travel commitment involved, I had to make this difficult decision. I feel it is in the best interest of the CFP and also of USC, with our current football coaching change and our upcoming Coliseum renovation.

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Prior to USC's game against Notre Dame on Oct. 17, per Notre Dame on NBC, Haden collapsed on the field in South Bend, Indiana. 

Haden did provide an update on his health the day after USC lost to the Fighting Irish:

Haden has been USC's athletic director since 2010. The football program has made bowl games in each of the last three seasons and won at least nine games three times in a five-year span.

The 62-year-old was part of the inaugural CFP selection committee last season. The group will unveil its first rankings of the 2015 season Tuesday. 

This marks the second consecutive year in which the selection committee will not have a full complement of 13 members, as Archie Manning stepped down for health reasons last year.