Carolina will have a say in the College Football Playoff. But it’s not in the way hopeful Tar Heel fans may have anticipated. UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts was named to the CFP’s Board of Managers last week, replacing retired Clemson University President Jim Clements.

The CFP Board of Managers is comprised of 11 university presidents and chancellors from across the country and governs the Playoff’s business, property and affairs. It has “exclusive authority over major matters” such as approving an annual budget and appointment of officers, according to a release from the Atlantic Coast Conference regarding Roberts’ appointment.

“I’m honored to join the College Football Playoff Board of Managers at this pivotal moment for the sport,” Roberts said in a statement. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the playoff serves student-athletes and the long-term future of college football.”

Rich Clark, the Playoff’s Executive Director, noted Roberts’ “leadership, perspective and deep understanding of higher education and intercollegiate athletics” as reasons for his appointment, and said Roberts will be “invaluable” as the Playoff continues to grow and evolve.

Roberts has served as UNC’s chancellor since 2023, when he was appointed on an interim basis. He was named the full-time chancellor in 2024. During his tenure, Roberts hasn’t hesitated to get involved in athletics, playing a key role in the hiring of Bill Belichick as the school’s head football coach in December of 2024. Roberts has also commented on a potential new arena for the men’s basketball program, most recently laying out the school’s priorities at a meeting of the school’s Board of Trustees earlier in January.

 

Featured image via UNC-Chapel Hill/Jon Gardiner

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