Big Ten Daily (Nov. 30): What Matt Rhule Would Change About NIL, Transfer Portal

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule isn't a fan of players being "bought" off of rosters. It's the one thing he would change about name, image and likeness and the transfer portal in college football.

Call it poaching or tampering, Matt Rhule isn't a fan of teams "buying" players off of rosters. The Nebraska coach said it's the one thing he would change about the current state of college football as it relates to name, image and likeness.

Rhule met with reporters for a post-season press conference on Wednesday. After fielding a few questions about NIL and the transfer portal, the 48-year-old was asked if there's anything he'd change about those two aspects of college athletics.

He didn't hesitate.

"I would not let people be able to buy people off another roster," Rhule said. "It's real simple. You think about, you recruit somebody and you develop them for two years and someone comes in and taken him. Then, that coach gets fired. It's like, you know, he actually did a pretty good job. So, that part of it."

Rhule never expressed frustration with player movement or NIL opportunities. He believes student-athletes should have the chance to profit off their success.

"I think the players getting a piece of their name, image and likeness, that makes sense to me. 100% makes sense to me. There's not one part of me that's ever had a problem with it. ... Just the, 'Hey, let me come in and take you from the roster.' That part is unique. But, it is what it is."

Perhaps if someone would've consulted Rhule before opening the floodgates, the offseason wouldn't be so chaotic. Instead, college athletics immediately turned into a free-for-all without any rules or guidelines.

Rhule's argument is a good one. The purpose of NIL was to reward student-athletes for their success within a program. But some teams use it as an opportunity to drop off a bag of cash at a player's doorstep in hopes of attracting better talent.

Recruiting, developing and retaining players is difficult enough. Coaches shouldn't have to worry about money being used as a weapon. Here we sit, though.

At this point, it's impossible to put the toothpaste back in the tube. At least Rhule was willing to say the quiet part out loud. 

Ohio State-Michigan Delivers Massive Ratings

Nothing came close to "The Game" last weekend. The showdown between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan in Ann Arbor drew an incredibly large audience for FOX.

Sports Media Watch revealed that the rivalry clash attracted 19.07 million viewers, the most-watched game of the college football season. No other matchup in Rivalry Week came close to that number.

The 9.0 rating for "The Game" was the third-highest on record and was the largest audience since the 2006 clash between the Buckeyes and Wolverines. That season, Ohio State and Michigan were ranked No. 1 and No. 2.

The second-highest total from the weekend was the Iron Bowl, with 9.09 million fans watching No. 8 Alabama's thrilling win over Auburn.

Everything was at stake between the Buckeyes and Wolverines on Saturday. Both teams entered the game 11-0 with a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game on the line.

Michigan won its third straight over Ohio State, defeating the Buckeyes 30-24. That secured a spot in Indianapolis for the Wolverines and essentially locked up a College Football Playoff spot, barring any major shakeup this weekend.

Kirk Ferentz Talks Spoiling Playoff Picture

Although Iowa won't be considered for a spot in the College Football Playoff this year, the Hawkeyes could have some sort of impact on the four-team field. Kirk Ferentz (obviously) likes the idea of that.

Saturday, No. 16 Iowa (10-2) takes on No. 2 Michigan (12-0) in the Big Ten Championship Game. Although it seems like the Wolverines locked up a Playoff spot with last Saturday's win over Ohio State, the Hawkeyes could spoil the party with a massive upset.

Ferentz would get a kick out of that.

“That’s kind of a commonality, too. When you get in this game you’re going to be playing someone who if they’re victorious (the Playoff) is where they’re going,” said Ferentz. “If we would win, I mean that would really screw things up I’m guessing. Might be kind of funny actually.”

Iowa isn't just playing for a laugh on Saturday. The Hawkeyes would like to hoist a Big Ten Championship trophy into the air. Not to overstate the obvious, but that's the bigger goal.

Shaking up the College Football Playoff picture would just be a bonus.

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