As the topic of College Football Playoff expansion continues to dominate headlines this offseason, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule is grappling with what it could mean for him and his program. He’s arrived at an interesting conclusion.
More playoff teams is better for him, for myriad reasons. He opened up.
“The more spots the better, man. Make that thing 40 and let’s go,” Matt Rhule said. “I think, again, you’re talking about a league that we play nine conference games where some others play eight. So I think that puts you at an automatic disadvantage.”
More playoff teams could help negate concerns over inequitable scheduling across conferences. It allows teams to get into the field, then show what they’re made of from there.
The current setup, with the Big Ten playing nine conference games, can sometimes preclude that. Teams are judged harshly for their losses — and there’s an element of self-preservation present there for Matt Rhule, too.
“You look at two years ago we were 5-7 and you think about the years with Scott (Frost) where he was 5-7, now you add in one more Group of Five team, you take out one more Big Ten, actually now you’re 6-6,” Rhule said. “This year you’re 6-6, now you’re 7-5. You’re just adding another win in.”
Of course, conference schedules being what they are, the focus for Matt Rhule is on what happens next. Playoff expansion could greatly aid the Big Ten, he surmised.
“I think the more spots, I think if they do go to where it’s guaranteed, hey, you get four at-large bids if you can play your way into those things, you just think about playing meaningful games in Memorial Stadium in November, December and January, where the weather starts to be a real factor,” Rhule said. “We play UCLA every year, the first thing I do is say where is it? When is it? I want it to be as cold as possible. Now they’re smart, (UCLA and USC), they play each other at the end of the year so they’re kind of protected from some cold-weather games.
“But as we start thinking about the College Football Playoff, yeah, I want to play those games in the midwest, in the northeast, in the north. I want to play them in cold areas to help the Big Ten.”
The further the field expands, the more home games on campus there will be. That lends to more of the weather factor playing a part.
More than anything, though, Rhule thinks having more playoff spots would more adequately reward leagues like the Big Ten. He wrapped up.
“So the more spots, the better,” Matt Rhule said. “We’re playing in a really, really tough league. We’re playing really, really good teams. And you know what? If you play in this league you deserve a chance to get to the postseason and see what you can do.”
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