Analysis: Winners & Losers of Matt Rhule Hire
By Joseph Ochoa
![Baylor University head coach Matt Rhule (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) Baylor University head coach Matt Rhule (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1639ad2d39378c1880066b418cdc752b91b7a43ae21e6b17442f1199fce1aae7.jpg)
Winner: Lincoln Riley
Regardless of what happens to Panthers, Rhule going to the NFL to coach has been a gift from the gods as far as Oklahoma Sooners coach Lincoln Riley is concerned. Rhule was poised to threaten the Sooners every season as long as he stayed at Baylor, especially given the program’s rapid resurgence in his short tenure with the Bears.
Riley now has the best possible position of all the college coaches in terms of his options moving forward.
If he stays at Oklahoma, his only real competition in the conference just left and now his biggest threat is only Todd Herman at Texas, which means that he continues to build his legacy at OU, one that could potentially surpass his predecessor Bob Stoops.
If he leaves, he has greater success offensively than Rhule and could easily use whatever Rhule makes in his contract with whatever team interviews and offers him a job.
Either way, he’s in position to get a big payday form Oklahoma or an NFL team.