Committee Fallout: Why Mark Harlan’s CFP Role Spells Trouble for the Big 12

In this episode of First and 16, we dig into why Utah AD Mark Harlan becoming the Big 12’s representative on the College Football Playoff Committee is raising alarms across the conference. With Arkansas’ AD taking over as committee chairman and the fallout from Mack Rhoades’ departure still fresh, we break down what this new power structure means for the Big 12’s national influence, playoff positioning, and long-term credibility. Is the conference losing ground in the most important room in college football? We unpack the politics, the optics, and the potential consequences.