Matt Rhule: Big Ten 'is the best league,' should have four CFP bids 'every year'

Matt Rhule is in his second season with Nebraska and the Big Ten, welcoming some new members. The Huskers will play two of the new programs, both of which reside in Los Angeles. It’s a new challenge for Rhule, adding to the difficulty of competing in the Big Ten in his mind.

Come December, Rhule believes four Big Ten teams could hear their name called for the College Football Playoff. That could become an annual occurrence as well due to the Big Ten being “the best league” in all of college football.

Rhule sees so many tough factors in a nine-game conference schedule, saying whoever winds in the upper echelon deserves to be included in the 12-team CFP field.

“I think we’ll have a lot of access to the College Football Playoff,” Rhule said Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days. “I think four teams from this league 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.

“That’s not to diminish any other league. The SEC is amazing, these other leagues are great. But the challenge in the Big Ten is going to be really difficult. Travel, weather, and great teams.”

The Big Ten made nine appearances in the College Football Playoff during the four-team era across three different teams. Ohio State was the most frequent at five, while Michigan‘s last three years were capped off by a national championship in January. Michigan State got in on the action in 2015 as well.

2017 and 2018 were the two seasons in which the Big Ten did not get a representative into the field.

So with the number expanding to 12 this upcoming season, the Big Ten — alongside the SEC — is expected to be a huge benefactor of its members. Rhule thinks the Big Ten should occupy at least a third of those spots, with one being the conference championship and then three at-large bids.

It’s difficult to project due to the Pac-12’s collapse but the Big Ten could have had three teams get in the 12-team playoff in 2024. Washington and Oregon are not included there, though, but certainly will be moving forward.

Rhule hopes to be one of the four CFP teams he believes should represent Big Ten one day. Adapting to the conference’s new look and fighting through challenging schedules makes the job even harder.