You know, sometimes it feels like we’re the TV executives and they’re us. We love to criticize them, and often they deserve it. But this time, everyone involved in college football, from fans and execs to rights holders and headset-wearing enthusiasts—not to mention anyone who isn’t a college football coach—needs to take a breath and listen to what Nebraska’s coach, Matt Rhule, said this week. He wasn’t wrong at all. In fact, his honesty has thrown light on something about the College Football Playoff that perhaps really does need changing.
Considering more teams in the playoff might sound appealing, especially with the new 12-team format on the horizon. But automatically granting four bids each to the SEC and Big Ten, while giving just two to the ACC and Big 12, seems more like declaring college football a rigged popularity contest than a fair competition. It risks the long-term health of the sport, catering to short-sighted desires instead.
Rhule, speaking candidly on “The Triple Option” podcast, responded to Urban Meyer’s concerns about future nonconference scheduling. Meyer, now a TV analyst, wondered why Ohio State should play Texas at the start of the 2025 season. He posed that question directly to Rhule.
Meyer pointed out the importance for coaches like Ryan Day and Rhule to make the playoffs. Fans might love a good old rivalry game like Nebraska-Oklahoma, disrupted by realignment, only to be briefly revived. But for coaches, every game must count towards making the playoffs.
Rhule was already shaking his head in agreement, even before Meyer finished his question. He canceled a Nebraska-Tennessee matchup already planned for 2026-27, which didn’t exactly win him fans in Knoxville, Tenn.
“Why would you ever play those games?” Rhule pondered openly. “Honestly, why? In my career, after being fired from the NFL, I say what I feel. I really couldn’t care less.”
And he’s got a point. For a Big Ten team, which already has a nine-game conference slate, why add another challenging nonconference game just for appearances?
We all know where the fans stand—they want the excitement, the spectacle (and the networks want their slice too). But from a coach’s perspective, being judged by results means making the playoffs or risking termination. Nebraska fans might not be thrilled with Bowling Green replacing Tennessee, but unless ticket prices drop in 2026, that’s the reality.
If Rhule brings victories, Nebraska fans can forgive almost anything. The atmosphere at tailgates remains unchanged, whether they’re facing Bowling Green or Oklahoma. But if he doesn’t deliver, these decisions might just become part of a longer list of grievances.
As college football seasons stretch to 17 games for some, most Power 4 coaches might wish for a lighter load before the conference grind begins. Rhule simply vocalized what many others likely think.
The challenge is ensuring Rhule’s rhetorical question has a convincing answer. “A high-caliber nonleague win should bolster your playoff case; a loss shouldn’t sink it.” The solution lies with the selection committee. Though there’s a supposed strength of schedule metric, last year, Indiana made it through with a nonleague slate of Florida International, Western Illinois, and Charlotte. It’s understandable why a coach might want to press the brakes.
Mind you, Indiana deserved their spot, but it raises the question: does nonconference scheduling hold enough weight with the committee?
Those looking to serve themselves over the sport’s future might favor automatic bids. Maybe SEC and Big Ten leaders won’t publicly back such an idea, but they wouldn’t mind discussions on possibly heavier September schedules.
Imagine an SEC/Big Ten challenge—it’s a tantalizing thought. But the idea doesn’t wash when you consider the auto bids could devalue the regular season. Besides, would September games become NFL preseason-like affairs, where keeping key players safe for conference play is the real goal?
The committee must be vital and effective. Rhule argued extravagantly, suggesting early wins mattered little in 2024, considering some late blowouts secured teams’ playoff spots. But one could say Georgia’s win over Clemson, Texas’s triumph over Michigan, or Tennessee’s domination of NC State did set the tone for their seasons, even as they faced setbacks later.
What’s needed is auto bids solely for champions and a committee recognizing significant nonleague victories more than it penalizes for losses. This approach should be transparent and communicated clearly to coaches, potentially even becoming an official metric.
And if anyone finds this idea absurd, bear in mind the chatter about play-in games enhancing conference championship weekends. A little like a gimmicky Pop-A-Shot alternative for the NBA All-Star Game. Just make sure those TV folks don’t take over entirely.
(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
