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College Football Playoff (CFP) Mock Selection Exercise

Each September, the College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee hosts a mock selection exercise for members of the press across the country. As the only student invited to Dallas, Texas for the event, I had a unique opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of "big-time" college football.

There were several circumstances in the sport that made that year's mock selection particularly interesting.

The CFP had expanded to the current twelve-team format for the first time. This meant that attending media members were learning about the process.

The Committee was fresh off a controversial year, which saw undefeated ACC champion Florida State being excluded from the CFP altogether.

Participating was memorable, but my biggest takeaway was watching how the group of seasoned reporters asked tough questions about both the process and the CFP's past controversies. They thoroughly examined every piece of information they were given.

Much of their effort was reflected in the content they produced.

Drawing on my experience from the mock selection process, I wrote an article for The Montclarion that took readers through the selection process. I also put together an eye-catching Instagram post to go along with the long-form article.

NCAA Men's Sweet Sixteen & Elite Eight

In March 2025, I had the opportunity to cover one of the most high-profile events in college sports: the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

As a credentialed media member, I had access to media day, the post-game press conferences, and a seat in the press box for all three games.

The scale of the event was striking to me. Dozens of media members from various outlets and the CBS broadcast team flowed from work areas, media scrums, locker rooms, and the press box.

The games also served as a valuable hands-on experience. I quickly learned how to navigate the demands of working in a busy environment where everyone had to meet tight deadlines.

One thing I didn't expect was how confident I felt all week. I was worried about being a small fish from a local university in a large pond.

I realized that the skills that I have developed had prepared me to meet the moment. I was a participant in every press conference and settled into the work area, where I spent many productive hours. Even asking questions to Duke head coach Jon Scheyer felt completely natural, no different than the four years I spent covering the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

The way the media reacts to developing storylines fascinated me. For example, near the conclusion of the BYU-Alabama Sweet Sixteen matchup, the Crimson Tide set the NCAA Tournament record for most three-pointers in a single game.

News of the record spread quickly throughout the press box and writers hustled to edit their content and prepare questions for players and coaches.

I wrote four articles covering the games. I was honored to be the first writer in the history of The Montclarion to bring on-location coverage of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament to the newspaper.

Heisman Trophy Ceremony

Pageantry is what separates college football from any other sport in the United States. The Heisman Trophy presentation is one of the traditions that make college football special.

In December 2024, I worked with ESPN as a stand-in for that year's television special. Over the course of two days, I participated in blocking practice to help the production crew prepare for the big event.

As someone who is highly interested in the inner workings of television, it was fascinating to observe the staff as they worked.

What surprised me the most was how much happens before the day of the event. By the time ESPN's talent arrived on set, most of the work had already been completed.

The weekend put into perspective the amount of work that the ESPN team puts into getting the live sports content that millions of people consume every single day. There were dozens of people behind the scenes and in front of the camera who helped to get the presentation on air.

I look forward to returning to work at the 2025 Heisman Trophy presentation this December.