FBI notified about threats toward CFP members after FSU exclusion - ESPN

HOUSTON, Texas — Executive director Bill Hancock said the College Football Playoff has contacted the FBI in response to threats he said were directed at himself, CFP staff members and selection committee members following this year's controversial exclusion of undefeated ACC champion Florida State.

Hancock declined to say specifically what the CFP has done to protect committee members and staff, but said it has «taken steps» since Selection Day on Dec. 3.

«We've stayed ahead of it,» Hancock said following the CFP's annual meeting prior to Monday night's CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington. «We've been in contact with the FBI just to say, 'We got this. We got a threat on my house. We want you to know about it and tell us what should we do about it?' Most of us did.»

After excluding the first undefeated Power 5 champion in the CFP era, Hancock said some committee and staff members received threats at their homes and offices, and all of them received «the disgusting, profanity-laced emails and phone calls.»

«Every NCAA sports committee receives criticism from the teams who were left out,» Hancock said, «I've been doing this 35 years. I've seen it and I understand those fans, but this one was absolutely over the top and inappropriate. In my 35 years, I've never seen anything like this.»

Hancock said he doesn't think this will deter people from volunteering to join the 13-member committee in the future. The CFP will have to replace seven people who rotate off the group this year.

«This is the most prestigious sports committee in the NCAA structure,» Hancock. «It's an honor to be a part of it, and moreso it's an honor to give something back to the game that you love. I get