Matt Rhule has never been one to whisper. The Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach—armed with a jaw-dropping $74 million, eight-year deal—has made a career out of flipping underperforming programs into competitive machines. He orchestrated miraculous turnarounds at Temple and Baylor, establishing a blueprint for long-term success. And now, after two full seasons at Nebraska, Rhule’s starting to find his groove in Lincoln. His team ended a years-long postseason drought and even notched its first winning season since 2016. But apparently, that’s not enough. Rhule wants more. Much more.
And when he spoke this time, it wasn’t just a hot take—it was a flamethrower.
Speaking candidly about the upcoming College Football Playoff (CFP) changes—set to expand from four to twelve teams in 2024—Rhule fired off a statement that detonated across the sports world like a siren in the night: “Make that thing 40 and let’s go.”
Wait… 40? As in four-zero? A playoff so big it could eat March Madness for breakfast? That’s not expansion—that’s an invasion.
Rhule’s Madness or Genius? Sure, there were whispers about pushing the playoff to 14, maybe even 16 teams—an idea that’s been met with cautious optimism. Proposed changes would grant automatic bids to power conferences: the SEC and Big Ten could land four teams apiece, the ACC and Big 12 get two each, Notre Dame would sneak in if ranked high enough, and the Group of Five would have a seat at the table.
But Rhule took that simmering pot and dumped gasoline in it. A 40-team playoff? That’s not just bending the traditional format—it’s dropkicking it off a cliff.
To Rhule’s credit, his frustration isn’t pulled out of thin air. Nebraska plays in the Big Ten—arguably the nation’s most brutal football conference—with teams like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, and now even UCLA and USC making life a weekly warzone. Unlike some conferences that play only eight league games, the Big Ten forces teams through a nine-game crucible. Rhule argues this puts schools like his at an unfair disadvantage.
But not everyone is buying what he’s selling.
Fans Clap Back: “Ultimate Loser Talk” Social media did not take kindly to Rhule’s radical proposal. Fans—often quick to fire off scathing wit—painted his comments as desperate, exaggerated, and, frankly, delusional.
One user scorched him with biting irony: “The hilarious part? Nebraska wouldn’t even make a 40-team playoff.” Another didn’t hold back either: “Does he not realize how desperate this makes him sound?”
And perhaps the harshest jab of all: “Even if the CFP expanded to 50 or 60 teams, Nebraska still wouldn’t get in.”
Ouch.
But here’s the twist—he might not be completely wrong.
Nebraska showed real flashes of potential last season. They started 3-0, improved dramatically in their passing game (ranking third in gains among 132 FBS teams), and finished the year with a bowl win. With promising talents like quarterback Dylan Raiola, and incoming stars Dane Key and Nyziah Hunter, the Cornhuskers might just be on the brink of something… if not elite, at least formidable.
Yet, many fans feel Rhule’s fiery comment reeks of defeatism wrapped in bravado. As one blunt tweet put it: “This is peak loser energy. Talking elite, performing average.”
Is Rhule Playing Chess or Just Stirring the Pot? Let’s not forget, Matt Rhule isn’t exactly shy with controversy. He’s already canceled Nebraska’s traditional spring game, ruffled feathers with his take on scrimmages, and now he’s calling for a playoff so inflated it could double as a conference itself. Is this pure madness—or calculated genius?
Maybe Rhule’s trying to rile up the system. Maybe he’s using audacity as a megaphone to highlight the grueling life in the Big Ten. Or maybe—just maybe—he’s laying the groundwork for a future where Nebraska doesn’t just sneak into the playoffs… but owns it.
So What Now? Will the CFP actually balloon to 40 teams? Highly unlikely. Such a move would fundamentally alter the sport, stretch the season, and dilute the meaning of “playoff.” It risks turning an elite showdown into a bloated battle royale.
But then again, college football isn’t exactly known for its stability. Money talks, controversy fuels change, and Matt Rhule just might be ahead of the curve—or wildly off the rails.
One thing’s for sure: he’s got everyone talking.
And maybe, just maybe, that was the point all along.
