Baylor AD Mack Rhoades investigated over alleged sideline confrontation

Baylor University athletic director Mack Rhoades is being investigated by the school for his potential role in an alleged confrontation with a player, according to multiple reporters.

Rhoades, who is also a chairperson for the College Football Playoff committee, was allegedly upset about the color of Baylor tight end Michael Trigg’s undershirt during a game against Arizona State on Sept. 20. That game, Trigg wore a gold, long-sleeved shirt under his jersey.

The Athletic reported that Rhoades grabbed Trigg — a senior — by the shirt on the sideline during the first quarter and questioned why he was wearing it, cursing at him in the process.

Everyone else on the team wore dark-colored undershirts for the game.

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda and tight ends coach Jarrett Anderson later confronted Rhoades — who has been Baylor’s AD since 2016 — about the incident.

The Athletic reported that the exchange was heated and had a lingering impact on Trigg that day.

Reportedly, Trigg wore the long shirt to cover a shoulder brace.

Baylor lost the game 27-24 on a last-second field goal.

Trigg had an outstanding game, hauling in five receptions for 71 yards. He had two of Baylor’s three touchdowns.

Trigg has 40 receptions for 607 yards and six touchdowns this season after a second-team All-Big 12 campaign in 2024.

The Tampa native attended USC in 2021 and transferred to play for Ole Miss in 2022 and 2023 before finding another home at Baylor.

Rhoades made his first television appearance as CFP committee chair on Tuesday to explain the group’s reasoning for this season’s first set of playoff rankings.

He’s the face of the 11-person committee, making him responsible for being on every playoff reveal show to discuss the rankings, Yahoo reported.