This mailbag covers why Sam prefers the 4-4-2-2-1-3 model for a 16-team College Football Playoff, what happens if Nebraska finishes 6-6 in 2025, and whether the Huskers can win a NCAA regional in Chapel Hill.

What are your thoughts on the Big Ten and SEC getting four auto bids — others not in the Big Ten are freaking out about it?

The worst thing about it might be that the Big Ten or SEC could get an at-large team on top of their automatic-bid teams. If, for example, the No. 3 Big Ten team finishes 11-1, but loses to the No. 6 seed for a play-in berth, that 11-2 team is probably making the CFP.

Now, is it that bad of a thing? No.

Is this model better than the five automatic qualifiers + 11 at-large teams approach that SEC coaches seem to prefer? Yes.

The best thing about a 16-team format — that includes four bids each for the Big Ten and SEC — is the Big Ten/SEC play-in weekend it creates before the CFP begins. Pitting the Nos. 3 and 6 and 4 and 5 seeds against each other for CFP bids.

The automatic qualifier model rewards the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the Big Ten and SEC with a bye week before the CFP begins. This approach mirrors what happens in the NFL for top seeds. A play-in weekend affords the league’s No. 6 seeds a chance to win one game — on a neutral site — and might make for better TV ratings than the first round of the CFP itself. Especially in the SEC. Oklahoma vs. LSU for a playoff bid? Hello! Nebraska vs. Michigan? Yes, please.

The model that favors 11 at-large teams relies mostly on the CFP committee. The Big Ten and SEC’s No. 6 teams, in that scenario, likely don’t control their own destinies — the CFP does. An AQ model actually deepens the pool of Big Ten and SEC teams that would go into the final weekend of regular season play with a chance at the tournament bracket.

Why would SEC coaches prefer a panel over winning a bid on the field? Hard to say. Perhaps SEC coaches live inside such an echo chamber — perpetuated by their commissioner, Greg Sankey, and ESPN — that they believe a panel would defer to the SEC’s “it just means more” narrative.

But that didn’t happen last year, and there’s no guarantee it would in the future.

It’s hard to feel sorry for the ACC and Big 12 if they were only to get two automatic bids. The Big 12 has 16 teams, sure — with one collective CFP win between them — and the ACC has not consistently prioritized football, given its basketball roots. (Miami’s lack of 10-win seasons or bowl game wins over the last two decades also stands out.)

Mostly? I just want a format to stick, and I want the sport to walk through highs and lows of that format for a decade or two. There’s way too much handwringing from the SEC over Alabama getting left out of the CFP in favor of Indiana and SMU. It’s one year. Those teams won’t be back to the CFP in 2025. Alabama probably will.

Social media — X, mostly — has made the sport’s leaders a little too reactionary. We don’t have to adjust something every time a SEC team wins a bowl game by a bunch of points or a Big Ten team loses to a Big 12 team. Pick a lane and drive it for a decade.

How much heat does Matt Rhule get if the Huskers lose to Cincinnati? Who falls on the sword if they go 5-7 or 6-6?

He’d get his share, given the comments he made this spring about the difference between the Big Ten and the Big 12.

“If you want to play in the Big 12 over the Big Ten? I got it,” Rhule said in response to a question about in-state recruits, some of whom were committed to Iowa State. “But make no mistake: There’s a big difference.”

Rhule’s right. There’s a huge difference. The Big 12 has won one College Football Playoff game ever. Ever! The Big Ten has won three CFP titles.

But should Cincinnati beat the Huskers, the comments will be brought back to the forefront. The Big 12 office may well trot to social media to do so.

So it’s an important game for NU to win. And while I don’t expect the Huskers to lose at Arrowhead Stadium or finish 6-6/5-7, you’d see Rhule own what happened and go about trying to make tweaks. I’ll say this: Nebraska in Year 4 looks more dangerous than Nebraska in Year 3, so Rhule has, in my view, two years, or 24-30 games, to stay the course with this new crop of coordinators unless something goes unusually awry.

People don’t love hearing that, but I’m a long view guy, and NU’s long-term prognosis looks good. Of course, I thought Scott Frost in 2021 was a two-year conversation; I was right about getting second year, wrong about whether he’d finish that second year in Trev Alberts’ evaluation.

What are baseball's chances of advancing to the super regional?

As good as last year, when they were pretty good — if Nebraska had been able to beat Florida, which was the 3 seed and eventual regional champ. The Huskers have a highly winnable region if they can get past Oklahoma and its ace pitcher, Kyson Witherspoon, on Friday.

Do that, and NU would likely face a North Carolina team that has an elite pitching staff and a streaky offense. The Tar Heels have a strong team — and arguably the sport’s best uniforms! — but they’re beatable, especially if NU can squeak out a win in a Saturday game and save some of its pitching staff for a regional final.

The Huskers are peaking at the right time as coach Rob Childress rounded this staff into shape. This is gravy time for a team that didn’t project to the NCAA tournament for much of the season, and Nebraska’s February/March schedule prepared it for this regional. The Huskers beat Vanderbilt, Oregon State, Oregon, UCLA, UC Irvine, Kansas, USC, Creighton and Kansas State. Four of those teams are as good as UNC and all of them are as good, or better, than Oklahoma.

Do you like the pool play at the Big Ten? Or would you rather have the Big Ten go the route of the ACC/SEC?

Let’s go with 12 teams for a single-elimination format. That’s what Big Ten softball did, and it worked. Why would the Big Ten have different formats for baseball and softball? Good question.

What are some root causes of the Husker baseball mid-week struggles this year?

Nebraska presses a bit and that can get you burned in baseball. NU played tight vs. Michigan State in the Big Ten tournament and needed a lucky drop to survive and, after that, played the last three games of the Big Ten tournament free as a released kite.

And, of course, it’s baseball – the best Major League teams lose 33% of their games. Had NU done that, it’d be 39-20 right now, and potentially in line to be a regional host.

The Huskers finished 7-5 in true midweek games with two wins each over Wichita State and Pepperdine and one win each over NCAA qualifiers Creighton, Kansas and Kansas State. NU lost four games to those teams, as well, plus a loss at UNO that was rescheduled to one day after a loss to Creighton, sandwiched in between home series vs. Oregon State and Rutgers. If anything, Nebraska was good to play the Mavericks in Omaha, but it’s not shocking NU’s pitching staff, having just faced Oregon State and CU, was worn down.

Photos: Nebraska football spring game 2025

Fans watch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule signs autographs before the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Sheila McClure and her daughter Charlotte McClure, 4, watch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska players compete in a Fastest Man competition during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) hands the game ball to Cole Mahloch, 7, after the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Emmett Johnson signs autographs after the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska players talk with fans after the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Players participate in a wing eating contest during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Keelan Smith (85) sprints during the Fastest Man challenge during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Justin Evans (51) sprints during the Fastest Man challenge during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) sprints during the Fastest Man challenge during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's DJ Singleton (30) catches a pass against Nebraska's Caden VerMaas (48) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Elijah Pritchett (57) puts on a pair of Hulk gloves during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's DJ Singleton (30) celebrates after a touchdown during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Luke Longval (17) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's John Cook ropes a mechanical bull during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's John Cook ropes a mechanical bull during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Carter Nelson ropes a mechanical bull during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Elijah Jeudy (16) ropes a mechanical bull during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Heinrich Haarberg (10) ropes a mechanical bull during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Pierce Mooberry (56) ropes a mechanical bull during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Quinn Clark ropes a mechanical bull during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Jalyn Gramstad (19) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Derek Wacker (42) tackles Nebraska's Hayes Miller (81) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's DJ Singleton (30) and Nebraska's Kahmir Prescott (12) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Brock Knutson (74) blocks Nebraska's Dylan Parrott (99) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Luke Longval (17) looks to throw during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's TJ Lateef (14) runs the ball against Nebraska's Christian Jones (50) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Marcos Davila (16) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Hayes Miller (81) and Nebraska's Brice Turner (40) go up for a pass during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska players run onto the field for the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska assistant coach Marcus Satterfield walks off the field with Eric Ingwerson (82) and Cayden Echternach (48) during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska assistant coach Donovan Raiola talks with the offensive line during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule and Dylan Raiola (15) talk during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

John Cook, former Nebraska volleyball head coach, practices his roping during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen watches on during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's John Hohl (90) participates in the Field Goal Faceoff during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Nico Ottomanelli (91) participates in the Field Goal Faceoff during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Nico Ottomanelli (91) participates in the Field Goal Faceoff during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Fans watch during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Fans look through piles of Husker athletics apparel and equipment during the Husker Equipment Sale at Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Stacey Bohlke of Hastings looks through a pile of Husker athletics apparel during the Husker Equipment Sale at Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Fans look through piles of Husker athletics apparel and equipment during the Husker Equipment Sale at Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Fans look through piles of Husker athletics apparel and equipment during the Husker Equipment Sale at Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Fans look through piles of Husker athletics apparel and equipment during the Husker Equipment Sale at Hawks Championship Center in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) warms up before the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Midland's Olivia Dominguez-Millsop (17) hands the ball off to Midland's Cydnee Redd (1) during a women's flag football game against the UNL All-Star team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Midland's NaTaija Blaylock (21) pulls the flags off of Nebraska's quarterback Dylan Raiola during a women's flag football game between Midland University and the UNL All-Star team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Midland's Allaya Livingston (23) runs with the ball during a women's flag football game against the UNL All-Star team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Midland's NaTaija Blaylock (21) celebrates after pulling the flags off of Nebraska's quarterback Dylan Raiola during a women's flag football game between Midland University and the UNL All-Star team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Midland's Angel Ioane Kaio (24) throws the ball during a women's flag football game against the UNL All-Star team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Midland's Olivia Dominguez-Millsop (17) and Morgan Kalisek (7) celebrate Dominguez-Millsop's touchdown during a women's flag football game against the UNL All-Star team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Kailyn Storovich plays with her niece Yarae Hackbart, 1, on the field before the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Fans watch the action during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's TJ Lateef (14) throws the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Marcos Davila (16) throws the ball during the Quarterback Shootout during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's TJ Lateef (14) runs the ball during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Luke Longval (17) throws the ball during the Quarterback Shootout during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Bode Soukup (11) throws the ball during the Quarterback Shootout during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Kevin Gallic (46) patricipates in the Long Snapper Showdown during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Kevin Gallic (46) patricipates in the Long Snapper Showdown during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Aidan Flege (94) patricipates in the Long Snapper Showdown during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Jalyn Gramstad (19) throws the ball during the Quarterback Shootout during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Nebraska's Dylan Raiola (15) throws the ball during the Quarterback Shootout during the spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

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