Can Nebraska Football Reach The 12-Team College Football Playoff?

Introduction what if in Matt ru's second season in Lincoln and in the inaugural season for the 12 te college football playoff the Nebraska Corn Huskers earn double digit wins they punch through the glass ceiling and they take up a spot in the 12 team playoff some of you may think I am insane for even contemplating this question probably most of you watching this video think or feel that way to some degree and some of you think that probably an Ideal World I should be drug tested before making this video but it's not as crazy as you think it is and an example that I will use to back that up is 2016 Nebraska they started out 7-0 and despite playing nobody which is probably the average caliber of team that Nebraska will play in their first seven games this year the 2016 Mike Riley Squad was ranked inside of the top 10 when they earned their first loss late in October to Wisconsin this is possible especially given the caliber of schedule that Nebraska has and also the caliber of staff and players that they do have but there's a difference between they can do it and they will do it so let's dive in and figure out that part welcome back college football fanatics the season is less than a 100 days away and if you you want another college football channel to follow and not just any college football channel but the best college football channel as it relates to the Big 10 please like this video so we can get more listeners and go into the algorithm get ourselves out there and also hit that subscribe button and the notification Bell so that you can join this community we'll be doing a giveaway at 20,000 subscribers and the notification Bell will allow yourself to be notified when I do that giveaway and notified every time I release a video also comment your thoughts down below do you think Nebraska even has a minuscule chance of reaching the playoff do you think it's totally out of the question let me know down below and last but certainly not least please check out my 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should do YouTube memberships because they do have some things that patreon doesn't have and I wonder if it would just be easier for you all to join a YouTube membership rather than traveling to a different website so let me know that in the comment section below as well if you have the time but without further Ado Requirements To Reach The CFP let's dive back in to this question because like I said there's a difference between they can make the playoff versus I believe they will make the playoff and I think that they can let's start there and the reasoning for that revolves around their schedule their talent and despite the fact that the Big 10 abolished divisions and in theory that meant the west or the former teams of the Big 10 West were going to have a tough time teams like Nebraska Iowa to a certain degree even Minnesota and Northwestern kind of got off the hook with that Rutgers from the East Penn State and Maryland were other big 10 teams to benefit on an average strength of schedule basis at least for this year compared to their previous Seasons but focusing on the West Iowa has a very favorable schedule Nebraska does as well the college football playoff committee cares about three things strength of schedule strength of record and the eye test now we don't always know what the crit criteria is for the college football playoff but we have an idea Nebraska out of all big 10 teams has the 12th toughest Big 10 schedule per ESPN's FBI the 12th toughest it's not like Michigan's schedule where Oregon Ohio State and Texas are three top 10 teams some would say three top four or top five teams that the Wolverines have to play not like Michigan schedule it's not like Michigan states where Ohio State Michigan and Oregon are on the Spartan schedule it's not like Purdue's schedule Purdue is the toughest schedule in the Big 10 11th per ESPN's fpi and Purdue plays Notre Dame non-conference and then Oregon Ohio State and Penn State Nebraska is 12th in the Big 10 32nd nationally and the only team in the top 15 per fbii that they play is Ohio State and when you factor in the top 30 teams Colorado Iowa and Wisconsin in fact even UCLA are close to that but none of them are even in the top 30 only USC is so there's only two top 30 teams in football power that Nebraska plays all season long now the bad news as it relates to the college football playoff is there's no way that a 9 and3 Nebraska team is reaching the playoff a 9 and3 Georgia a 9 and3 Alabama a 9 and3 Michigan if this year is full of chaos and every team or maybe all teams but one two or three have more than one loss at the end of the year those three teams and maybe some more could reach the playoff with three losses depending on how the dice roll same with a pack not Pack 12 pardon me that's going to take some adjusting to get used to Big 12 or ACC schools that get into their conference Championship game and win with three losses it's the same thing with the big 10 or the SEC if somehow a three loss team wins the conference they'll get NAU bid uh for Nebraska given their weak strength of schedule they're probably not going to win any tiebreakers to go to Indie if they have that many losses because yes strength of conference schedule is actually a part of the tiebreakers now in large effect which is just awesome in my mind rewards good play better incentive it it's just more fair it's something that I like about the new Big 10 divisions are abolished but with Nebraska's schedule they have to go 10- two and preferably 11-1 12-0 which I've already discussed in previous videos of mine and I maintain this opinion Nebraska's not going 11 And1 or 12 and0 they're not so they have to achieve at their ceiling to even have a shot at the playoff which makes their odds already very small and they can't lose to any non-top 30 teams or non-top 25 teams in my opinion which means a loss to Colorado absolutely not probably can't afford that especially since there are teams like Ohio State USC Wisconsin Iowa and depending on whether you're with me or not on this even ruter probably will be better than the buffalos this season can't lose to a team like Colorado can't lose to Illinois Purdue can't lose to Indiana before the Ohio State game so they have to stay on top of all games even trap games losing to ruter at home would not be preferable and losing later in the season hurts it's better to lose early than later which stinks because since all the tough games are later in the season and you don't want to lose to small teams for with Nebraska's week schedule that kind of Demands perfection outside of the Ohio State game and maybe the USC game and then there's the ey test as well the committee loves teams who play in either Elite conferences which Check Nebraska checks that box or teams that are dominant and or teams that are dominant so Nebraska must win big and that's just not their play style I remember Matt rule at Baylor in 2019 thiry Year great Baylor team going to overtime with a bad TCU team and playing several other close games it's the same way at Temple same way in his earlier Seasons at Baylor and it's the same way last year with Nebraska they had several close wins several close losses I don't think this team is going to be blowing out people under Matt rule period especially in year two they come across as more of a game control type team and the committee the committee will fall I mean this is the reason why for examp example Ohio State in 21 and 22 was viewed as much better than Michigan even when in retrospect they weren't is because Ohio State's style of play gets more clicks it catches your attention more I've even fallen for it that style of play is just more exciting the committee loves exciting teams Nebraska especially this season doesn't come across as a team that will be exciting they have exciting aspects but in terms of dominance blowing people out and just being a great team that's unlikely so out of all the boxes to check strength of schedule strength of record potential for Quality wins the ey test playing in a tough conference Nebraska doesn't check many of those boxes but let's dive even Nebraska's 2024 Schedule deeper and specifically look at the schedule because fpi believes that this is an easy schedule relative to the average Big 10 team but but reaching the college football playoff is hard especially with the brutal November slate like USC Wisconsin Iowa yes technically UCLA is in November but it's November 2nd there's a buy after what I'm really talking about is USC Wisconsin Iowa with two of those games being on the road and the one game that's at home Wisconsin is a team that I think matches up rather well with the corn husk but we'll get into that later it mainly has to do with Nebraska's secondary having some questions with especially the Deep ball and Wisconsin probably having the best passing offense outside of maybe Nebraska but I'd strongly lean Wisconsin right now out of all the former Big 10 West teams losses in November which this ties in with the brutal November slate losses in November assuming that Ohio State's an auto loss which I'm going to say it's Clos close to if not an auto loss at best it's 99% a loss losses in November or To Mediocre teams kill any shot of reaching the playoff again Colorado Rutgers Iowa I would say just with their offense and the fact that they probably won't be that much better on that side of the ball and Iowa being the final game of the season ending your season on a loss especially with the college football playoff committee taking recent bias into account not good I mean look at 2017 Wisconsin they go 12-0 losing a close game against an Ohio State team that was probably better than their record indicated got booted out in favor for Alabama who lost to they had the worst loss but they had the better strength of schedule look at Michigan State in 2021 despite them beating Michigan head-to-head Michigan was ranked ahead of the Spartans before the Spartans got blown up by Ohio State why was that Michigan state had the worst loss they had similar strength of schedules and Michigan looked more dominant so really that's that also recency bias again Michigan state had the more recent loss compared to Michigan so all of these things really tied in with the weak strength of schedule don't help Nebraska's case but Nebraska goal anyway this season is just to go bowling it's good to theorize about what they would need to do to get in and I'm theorizing about it because again a team like Colorado could reach the playoff ruter and Iowa with their schedule could reach the playoff they could look at Iowa's schedule Ohio State's the auto loss they could go 11- one if they play Ohio State somewhat respectably for a half they'll probably make the 12 team playoff even Within being Iowa if ruter goes 11- one and their losses at Nebraska at Virginia Tech and maybe Virginia Tech wins the ACC or at USC and USC is a top 25 team they would probably make the 12 team playoff expanding the playoff field you take four teams and you add another eight to the equation and only one of them is going to be a on power for school most likely you're nearly increasing your field of teams that will make the playoff from the power four by 200% if if I'm doing the math in my head correctly by nearly 200% not exactly because that group of five Auto bid but nearly that number you're going to get teams and this is one of the issues with the 12 team playoff is the 11th best team who will be power four versus the best team who will be power four the difference between those teams will be multiple touchdowns you are going to get teams in the playoff that you would never pencil in to reach the four team playoff from last year if you put them in last year's final college football playoff rankings but because of the mass expansion There's an opportunity for teams that are even viewed as mediocre in the preseason or even back had to enter the playoff without having to go on a total Cinderella run TCU for example could have lost a game or two in 2022 and still made the 12 team playoff if they won the Big 12 championship game instead just as an example if Colorado wins the Big 12 they're in if Rutter and Iowa win double digigit games more preferably they go 11- one which I think is possible because they have easier schedules I think than Nebraska does then they're in most likely the goal is to go bowling but I'm mainly doing this video if you can't tell already for the fun of it and because I think it's possible not because it's likely I'm not even predicting it but it's possible uh this schedule it's one that provides an opportunity to build momentum to solve issues and to play in a top 10 matchup against Ohio State and potentially if everything goes right for Nebraska they can for sure be in that playoff conversation especially if other teams are losing they're walking with two left feet tripping over themselves and Nebraska is controlling games and finding ways to win I mean remember Nebraska's Strengths Alabama made the playoffs last year that Team all they did was manage games that's all they did there was not a single impressive win that they had I outside of their game against Georgia and I'd argue their most impressive game of the year was either that game in the SEC title or playing Michigan as close as they did despite Michigan obviously being the better team in the Rose Bowl Alabama 12-1 they had Nick sain a lot more Talent than Nebraska I'm not comparing those two teams what I'm saying is if Alabama made the four team playoff without being dominant having an ugly loss against Texas an ugly loss at home then Nebraska can probably contend for the 12 team playoff with a much easier schedule to balance out for the talent disparity and head coaching disparity and again eight extra teams can come in seven extra power four teams and with the schedule and also the team that Nebraska has it's doable they have a defense line that's one of the strongest units in the Big 10 returning Nash hutmacher who had a breakout season multiple sacks more than five sacks the receiver core is good Jaylen Lloyd Malachi Coleman were young last year each had a touchdown catch they had over a 100 yards receiving Isaiah ner transfers in he had a 1,00 yard season at Wyoming in 2021 was injured at Texas for 22 played sparingly last season he should be good Jamal Banks was impressive honorable mention all ACC at Wake Forest fedoni had multiple touchdown receptions and I think led the team in receiving yards last year Nebraska has weapons they do they have big bodies the polar bear on the defensive line and Nash Hut mocker they have Speedy receivers effective receivers a big body in fedoni and at running back quarterback they have players there too to control the clock and by quarterback I'm not just meaning Rola who's been accurate at high school doesn't throw picks looked good in the spring game you have Hinrich harberg who can run the ball who can bully opposing Defenders who's the perfect quarterback to QB sneak on fourth and one third and one or maybe do a quarterback power on third or fourth and short and at running back Dante da Gabe bvin Jr EMT Johnson all have power back capability and ramir Johnson training at wide receiver at times good route Runner fast youth him as well very deep running back room potential to have a deep and impressive quarterback room to be good on one side of the trenches on the defensive line that's great and to have receivers who can make life easier on the quarterback make the offense less onedimensional which was very onedimensional last year that is helpful as well and you can include the secondary too with Malcolm harzog coming back with Tommy Hill who should be one of the better Corners in the Big 10 he's returning a blly hill if healthy he's going to be an impact transfer there are a lot of strong points on this team so while I'm not telling you to predict Nebraska to reach the playoff I I I just I need to for to hammer that message home what I am telling you is don't be surprised when or if this team is good and don't be shocked when the college football playoff committee is potentially a fooled by the easy start that Nebraska has and they rank them top 15 or top 10 to begin the year or B Nebraska starts off strong but they also finish strong and there maybe in that playoff cont conversation at the end of the year Nebraska has plenty of Nebraska's Weaknesses strengths but like I mentioned earlier I don't think they're going 11 and one I certainly don't think they're going 12-0 this team still has a ways to go I'm very high on Dylan riola for example but he hasn't recorded a single collegate snap he is the ceiling of Trevor Lawrence potentially being a generational Prospect but he could be Nebraska's Blake Barnett there was a reason that Sabin started Blake Barnett against USC in 2016 there was a reason for that there was a reason why Tate forcier at Michigan was started by Rich Rodriguez and they flamed out highly talented players that were predicted to do big things based off of minimal exposure or no exposure at all and they flamed out you just never know having that big of a question especially given that Hinrich B's limitations are somewhat known and kin is Young and more limited than Rola the quarterback position especially for Nebraska is critical that's also especially the case because of the offensive line if Nebraska had a 2022 Ohio State Michigan or Georgia caliber offensive line they could roll with harberg and potentially have an even higher ceiling than they do this year without RI being in the picture and I'm dead serious when I say that because having a Joe Mo award caliber offensive line well you might as well have the potential to have the key to win the Big 10 conference which specializes in trench play especially on the interior of the o line or the dline Nebraska I think has that figured out on the dline but on the o line I don't know I think that Ben Scott at Center respectable player good player one of the better centers in the Big 10 and they also have mik ASA Bryce benhardt those are just some players to look out for but they don't have anyone who strikes as first or in my opinion even second Team all big 10 maybe Mesa but again incoming transfer and he wasn't an All-American at Florida very good but just one player the o line is a whole unit five players and I'd say closer to 10 than five because how many injuries an offensive line will sustain in a given season it's just the facts the offensive line has to get better Nebraska at one point led the Big Ten and rushing last year and that was because that's all they did all they did was run the football it wasn't because they were Elite or great at running the ball Ohio State at points last year was better at running the ball than Nebraska because of trayon Henderson but they wanted to have a more balanced attack and they passed a lot more than Nebraska did so the Corn Huskers I know this year are going to pass more than they are going to run and with a new quarterback it's imperative that if this team wants to be in the conversation that I'm talking about or even just solidify going to a bowl game and I'd say for Nebraska they should shoot higher than going to a bowl game not going to the playoff that'd be ridiculous but earning a winning record not just going six- six but go seven and5 or 8 and four that should be a goal of this team and if they want to do that especially with again their schedule is not hard but I wouldn't say it's easy either relative to all other college football schedules they're going to have to be good in the trenches that includes the offensive line and not just Nash Hut mocker and the defensive line and the defense while I think they will be good if they're not Elite Colorado Ohio State USC and Wisconsin all teams with good to Great Wide Receiver rooms and I would say good to Great quarterbacks heck in case of Ohio State and USC round the wide receiver positions to Elite same with USC's QB if the secondary yet again has some of the struggles that they did last year defending the Deep ball and if the linebacker core isn't set because both got L Luke Henrich and Luke Rymer Luke Rymer and Nick Henrich pardon me nearly mixed up their names they're both gone if that position isn't figured out and the secondary still has some of their issues even with health reasons I know that blly Hill I don't know how his injury reports tracking right now but if things go wrong on that def defense look for those four teams to potentially have their way and Iowa add them up there as well they won't slice and dice that defense but they would eventually physically wear down the Huskers in what looks to be a night game for the heroes trophy so can this team make the college football playoff well yes but it's very Can the Cornhuskers reach the 12-team CFP? unlikely fpi only gives Nebraska a 4.9% chance to make the college football playoff and I think Nebraska's ceiling is 10- two and I've said that in my previous top 25 video where I had Nebraska 14th now if you're a top 15 team you're a playoff Contender I think Nebraska is close to a playoff Contender but also my rankings are more so Power Rankings not me only ranking teams based off of their strength of record for example it's also Power Rankings and how good of a team they are relative to others this is a down year in football that's why I think this Nebraska team is going to be top 15 uh this Nebraska team what I think they'll be this year in last year's final rankings or in last year's Power Rankings would probably be just top 20 or maybe just inside the top 25 I think last year was a pretty strong year this year I think is going to be a pretty weaker there's less returning production I think across the board for the great teams and the quarterback position is going to be weak with the majority of top 10 quarterbacks from last year whether by NFL potential or by quarterback efficiency they're gone off to the NFL so those are some reasons why I think that's the case it presents a unique opportunity for the husers but 10 and two with that schedule is not a guarantee to get in though it would give Nebraska I think a more than likely chance to get in but that's their ceiling 9 and3 and 8 and four is probably more likely than 10- two especially 9 and3 I think that they are better than everyone on their schedule minus Ohio State I I think they'll they're better than Wisconsin Ohio State not Ohio State duh Iowa and USC and certainly Colorado and even ruter who I'm very high on but due to the fact that this team still has some Kinks to work out and they're not as deep as Matt rule wants them to be there will be upsets whether it's against teams that match up well with them like Colorado USC Wisconsin and well the Ohio State again that's probably an auto loss it's the only team on Nebraska schedule who I think is better than Nebraska but Ohio state is Miles Ahead of Nebraska and it's a game on the road just for example um or it could be Iowa or maybe Purdue or maybe ruter I mean we just don't know Nebraska has not played at the level I think they'll play at this year in more than a decade since the Pini era rule is not finished building his program and this team is not deep enough to go 11- one or even win a college football playoff game if they happen to make it but I think this team is bound to take a step forward this year you all know that I am high on them and there there's a chance not saying it's guaranteed I don't think it'll happen but there's a chance which we couldn't say I'd say for the past decade thank you all for watching this video please remember to hit that like button subscribe to the channel click the notification Bell and comment your thoughts down below thanks to crash 2488 and Brasa Rascal for being Heisman patrons 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