Archie Manning leaves committee

Because of health reasons, Archie Manning is stepping down from the College Football Playoff Committee that will determine the four finalists for the 2014 national championship.

"We will miss Archie," executive director Bill Hancock said. "He has such a great knowledge of college football and history with the game, but we all understand his reason for taking a leave. I wish him all the best and look forward to his return in 2015."

Manning underwent knee replacement surgery earlier this year and is now experiencing discomfort while walking. He will have surgery next month and will be unable to travel to meetings.

"It is an honor to serve on this committee, and I enjoy the group and was looking forward to the opportunity ahead," Manning said. "My health had to be my primary concern and I intend to be up and about as soon as possible."

He also underwent back surgery in 2013 and therefore will focus on his health, unable at this time to devote his time to the duties that are required of him to determine the finalists for the college national football championship playoff.

The committee will continue with 12 members for the rest of the season and will issue its first rankings Oct. 28. The four teams that will compete in the semifinals -- to be played at the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl -- will be announced Dec. 7, and the title game will be Jan. 12 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

In the event of a 6-6 deadlock on a vote, for example, of the top two teams in the playoff, the selection committee will continue to discuss and re-vote until someone makes a change. There is no process through which, for example, the chair's vote breaks a tie. The College Football Playoff has also stressed that no committee member is a representative of a conference, and of course, the chair of the committee also has an SEC connection.

The playoff has also adjusted its conference representatives to account for Manning's leave asMike Tranghese will take Archie's spot to work with Oliver Luck on the Mountain West and Steve Wieberg will join Tom Jernstedt on the Atlantic Coast Conference.

ESPN's Joe Schad and ESPN.com's Heather Dinich contributed to this report.