Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has never been one to hold back his opinions, and his recent comments about college football playoff expansion are no exception. With the new 12-team playoff format set to debut in the 2024 season, Rhule is already thinking bigger. His suggestion? “Make that thing 40 and let’s go.” It’s a bold proposal, one that underscores the growing momentum among coaches and fans for broader access to the sport’s biggest stage.
Rhule’s comments highlight a growing sentiment that college football has outgrown the exclusivity of the current playoff system. While the expansion from four to 12 teams is a significant step, the disparity in opportunity among Power Five schools, Group of Five programs, and independent teams remains. Rhule’s push for a 40-team playoff — nearly a third of the 133 FBS programs — is driven by the belief that more teams deserve a shot at postseason glory, and that the current model still favors traditional powerhouses.
“Why not?” Rhule asked during a recent media appearance. “Every other sport has large-scale playoffs. Basketball does it. Baseball does it. It’s time college football catches up.” He isn’t alone in his thinking. Critics of the four-team playoff long argued that it left deserving teams on the outside looking in, and while a 12-team format will address part of that issue, Rhule and others believe that even more inclusivity is needed to reflect the true spirit of competition.
There are, of course, logistical challenges to expanding the playoff to 40 teams. The regular season would likely need to be adjusted, potentially reducing non-conference games or eliminating conference championship games altogether. Bowl games would need to be restructured or absorbed into the playoff framework. Academic calendars and athlete workload are also major concerns. But for coaches like Rhule, the potential benefits outweigh the costs.
More playoff spots would mean more meaningful games late in the season, more exposure for programs outside the Power Five, and potentially more parity in recruiting as more teams can realistically pitch a playoff opportunity to prospects. It would also boost revenue for schools and conferences, which could help fund everything from facilities to NIL initiatives.
Rhule’s vision may seem extreme to some, but it reflects a broader push to democratize college football. The sport has long been dominated by a handful of programs with elite resources and recruiting power. A 40-team playoff wouldn’t level the playing field overnight, but it could give rise to new storylines, Cinderella runs, and underdog champions — much like what fans enjoy during March Madness.
Ultimately, Rhule’s rallying cry — “Make that thing 40 and let’s go” — isn’t just about numbers. It’s about expanding opportunity, increasing fairness, and injecting new energy into a sport that, for all its popularity, still grapples with issues of access and equity. Whether or not the college football world is ready for such a seismic shift remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: Matt Rhule is ready for a bigger, bolder postseason.
