The Big Ten conference added four teams, UCLA, USC, Washington and Oregon, to its roster before last season in hopes of shaking up the college football landscape.
What followed was seismic shift in conference perception that had fans proclaiming commissioner Tony Petitti’s conference as the best in all the land with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in second place, a wholly unfamiliar spot.
The success of the Big Ten’s expansion has carried over into 2025-26 with Oregon, Ohio State, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and other Big Ten teams experiencing a high level of success.
The Big Ten isn’t guaranteed more than one spot in the College Football Playoffs this season, but one former NFL and current league coach thinks that should change.
Matt Rhule Speaks Out on CFP
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule spoke out on his own personal proposal for the Big Ten and the College Football Playoff going forward.
“In the Big Ten, we have to go into someone else’s stadium in our league five times and duke it out,” Rhule said.
“But I think we’ll have a lot of access to the College Football Playoff. I think four teams should get in every year because this is the best league. This is the NFL of college football in my mind. It stretches from coast to coast, different time zones, different weather.”
Nebraska Building Case for Playoff Berth
Nebraska knocked off the visiting Michigan State Spartans last weekend in Lincoln, Neb., giving Rhule’s team its fourth win in five tries so far this season.
The Cornhuskers will next travel to College Park, Maryland to take on coach Mike Locksley’s Terrapins in what should be a challenging but winnable game.
Rhule’s team doesn’t play Ohio State or Oregon this year, widely regarded as the top two teams in Petitti’s conference, giving them a potential inside track to the Big Ten Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, December 6.
Rhule’s plan isn’t likely to drum up a whole lot of support but it speaks to the confidence that Big Ten coaches have in their league.
The Cornhuskers boast a former five-star QB in Dylan Raiola and several talented playmakers including running back Emmet Johnson, who starred against MSU, but still aren’t being seen as a legit College Football Playoffs favorite because of the logjam of strong teams ahead of them in the standings.