Paul Finebaum blasts Nebraska’s Matt Rhule for suggesting Big Ten deserves CFP spot - “Stay in your lane”

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule stirred things up by saying the Big Ten Conference should have four spots in the College Football Playoff (CFP). He even called the Big Ten the "NFL of college football." But ESPN’s Paul Finebaum didn't hold back, telling Rhule to "Stay in your lane."

Rhule is confident in the Big Ten's strength, believing it can consistently produce top teams deserving of multiple playoff spots. Speaking at the Big Ten media day, he said:

“I think four teams from this league should get in every year because this is the best league,” the Cornhuskers coach said. “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.”

However, on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ show, Finebaum had a different take.

“Stay in your lane, okay? Job one, win enough games to get to some stupid bowl game,” he said. “Don't worry about the big boys because you're not one of them.

“We saw what you did in the NFL. You were a complete disaster in Carolina. You somehow got this job in Nebraska, and you're talking like you belong at the table with Ohio State and Georgia. You don't.”

Paul Finebaum suggested that Rhule should stop losing crucial games at the last moment and leave the expert analysis to the pundits.

As the Big Ten grows, Nebraska's path under Matt Rhule has a mixed bag schedule

Nebraska's head coach Matt Rhule looks on from the sideline. [IMAGN]

The Big Ten is shaking things up by welcoming USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon in 2024. This new 18-team lineup will face a nine-game conference schedule, doing away with divisions. Over in the SEC, Texas and Oklahoma are also joining the ranks, making the competition fiercer.

The Big Ten has a solid track record with nine College Football Playoff appearances, second only to the SEC. The Ohio State Buckeyes took home the national title in 2014, and the Michigan Wolverines are the current champions.

Nebraska, under Matt Rhule, has a mixed schedule ahead. While trips to Iowa, Southern California and Ohio State are tough, winning two of these road games could put them in the Big Ten's top four.

Nebraska starts its 2024 season on Aug. 31 against UTEP. The Cornhuskers face a challenging second half, visiting Ohio State on Oct. 26, hosting UCLA a week later, and traveling to USC on Nov. 16 after a bye week.

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