Ohio State AD Gene Smith replacing Barry Alvarez on College Football Playoff selection committee

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith’s undergone a bit of a 180 in the minds of many OSU faithful.

After famously clumsily handling the tattoo-for-bartering scandal resulting in the firing of Jim Tressel and costing Ohio State’s 12-0 team a potential national title shot, the return for glory of the OSU football team under Meyer and the rise of the wrestling program helped buy a lot of political capital back in Smith’s favor amongst the fanbase.

While his legacy is probably firmly cemented in the positive now, OSU partisans will have another data point of interest to add to Smith’s body of work while OSU AD: College Football Playoff selection committee member.

According to ESPN’s CFP beat writer Heather Dinich, Smith is replacing outgoing Wisconsin AD (and former head football coach) Barry Alvarez. Smith once helmed the NCAA men’s basketball tournament selection committee, resulting in a ballot that drew near universal ire and some criticism from college hoops hardcores.

A few negative opinions from years ago aside, the former Notre Dame football player clearly knows his gridiron, and should be an asset to a committee that could only stand to benefit from some new backgrounds, opinions, and ideas. Smith should be one of at least three new members as former Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson and former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice are also rotating off the committee along with Alvarez.