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Matt Rhule questions why some Big Ten programs play tough nonconference games, notes scheduling difference with SEC

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

Matt Rhule has some strong thoughts on college football scheduling and isn’t shy about sharing them.

The Nebraska head coach discussed a variety of topics during a recent appearance of The Triple Option podcast with Urban Meyer and Rob Stone. The topic of nonconference scheduling came up. While the College Football Playoff rematch of Texas and Ohio State on Aug. 30 is one of the most anticipated games of the season, Rhule doesn’t see why the Buckeyes signed up to play the game.

“Why would you ever play one of those games?” Rhule said. “If we’re being completely honest, Coach Meyer, I’m at a point in life where in my fourth job and after getting fired in the NFL, I kind of say what I feel nowadays, I could care less.

“Why in the world would a Big Ten team who’s already playing 9 conference games, why would you ever play one of those games?”

Rhule continued on the topic of scheduling, bringing up the SEC.

“You look at a lot of teams, and this is not anti-SEC, but there’s some SEC teams last year that only played 3 away games in another team’s stadium. Three,” Rhule noted. “We’re in a league where some years you have 5 Big Ten home games, some years you have 5 road (games). You have to go on the road 5 times in the Big Ten with no like Florida–Georgia in a neutral site.”

Rhule’s comments come with the looming possibility that the Big Ten and SEC reach an agreement to start scheduling each other’s programs annually. The potential SEC-B1G challenge got renewed attention earlier this month when the conferences met to discuss College Football Playoff expansion and more.

The SEC-B1G games were mentioned alongside the SEC adding a 9th game to the conference schedule. Both conferences are reportedly seeking 4 automatic CFP bids with the field expanded to 14 or 16 teams.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.