Former Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford will have a say in who plays for the 2026 College Football Playoff championship.

Tedford is one of three new members on the College Football Playoff management committee, the group announced Monday. He joins Louisiana athletics director Bryan Maggard and former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn.

“The additions of Bryan Maggard, Gus Malzahn and Jeff Tedford will introduce strong, fresh perspectives to the selection committee as we enter our 13th season,” CFP Executive Director Rich Clark said. “Each brings a deep understanding of the game, a genuine passion for college football and a commitment to integrity and excellence. Their diverse backgrounds as university leaders, recent coaches and former student-athletes will complement our returning members and allow for a seamless transition.”

Tedford, Malzahn and Maggard will serve three-year terms. They replace former Nevada coach Chris Ault, former college athletics administrator Jeff Long, and Miami University AD David Sayler, whose terms expired. Former Arizona State and NFL great Randall McDaniel, who stepped away from the committee last year, will return.

The CFP selection committee chooses the 12 teams that qualify for the College Football Playoff. Indiana won the 2025 championship — its first in program history. The group also produces weekly Top 25 rankings. The 13-member committee is composed of six ADs, six at-large members (four former head coaches and two former players) and one former media member.

Tedford at Fresno State

Tedford played quarterback for the Bulldogs for two seasons (1981-82) before embarking on a pro career in the Canadian Football League. After he retired in 1988, he moved into coaching.

He was an assistant at Fresno State from 1992 through 1997 before moving to Oregon. He took the head coaching job at Cal, where in 11 seasons (2002-12) he became the program’s all-time winningest coach.

Tedford served two stints as Fresno State’s head coach, from 2017 through 2019 and from 2022 to 2023. He won two Mountain West championships, four bowl games, and had three 10-win seasons.

Fresno State inducted Tedford into the Ring of Honor last season.