Oct 30, 2015 04:43 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Pat Haden, the University of Southern California's (USC) athletic director, will step down from his place on the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection committee.

"I am reluctant to step down, but my doctors advised me to reduce my traveling," Haden said in the CFP's release. "With the weekly CFP meetings about to start and the travel commitment involved, I had to make this difficult decision. I feel it is in the best interest of the CFP and also of USC, with our current football coaching change and our upcoming Coliseum renovation.

"It was an honor to serve on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.  I have such high regard for the CFP process and for the committee members, who devote such time and energy to the great sport of college football. It was a pleasure to serve alongside them.  I want to thank the committee members, as well as CFP executive director Bill Hancock and his staff. They all do wonderful work."

The committee is preparing to release its first rankings for the 2015-2016 season, due out Tuesday, Nov. 3. In the second and final year of his tenure with the CFP, Haden's spot will not be filled and the committee will proceed with 12 members.

Haden told ESPN in April he was unsure of his long-term plans at USC, but stated he would stay on the CFP selection committee through the season. Haden has also dealt with unspecified health issues that have resulted in multiple hospitalizations over the past year or so.

"We will miss Pat," Bill Hancock, the CFP's executive director, said in the release. "He knows and loves college football and brought excellent insight to the process, but we all understand."

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