NEW ORLEANS -- In a few short days, the football world has become obsessed with Baylor coach Matt Rhule. 

Rhule has been rumored for almost every NFL job opening but has been specifically identified as the top target for the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, the latter of which he worked for as an assistant in 2012. 

All of this is coming up just days before Rhule coaches in the biggest college game of his life, as his No. 7 Baylor Bears take on the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. The game would push the Bears up to 12 wins for the first time in program history. 

“When our players play well and when they do things like they’ve done, going from 1-11 to the Sugar Bowl, people are going to take notice of not just me but my staff,” Rhule said. “The guys on my staff were offered Division I jobs this year, head coaching jobs, and were pretty committed to being at Baylor. It’s a wonderful place. I hate that it’s even a storyline for our players, but they’ve handled it really well.”

Rhule has tried to stay forthright with his team through the process. Earlier this week, he spoke to them at a team meeting about the speculation. 

“He addressed it,” Baylor defensive tackle Bravvion Roy said. “Of course he’s going to take some interviews, but he just wanted to let us know that his main priority is us and he has unfinished business here. He’s going to listen and see what they have to offer, but his main priority is us.” 

The team has been through this before. Last year, Rhule interviewed with and was reportedly offered the New York Jets job. Rhule is from New York. However, Rhule and the Jets parted ways after disagreements about staff control. The year before, the Indianapolis Colts contacted Rhule about its head coach opening. 

“This isn’t our first time,” Baylor defensive back Grayland Arnold said. “This probably just seems bigger to everyone because we’re winning now, but they’ve been trying to get him. We had the same situation popup last year. We’re not really distracted by that. We understand that if we win games, people are going to come after him, that’s just how this goes.” 

While rumors of losing a head coach are never easy, there is a silver lining. Rhule is a top candidate because of what the players have accomplished on the field. It’s validation for those same players that survived a 1-11 season that their hard work is paying off. 

“If people have him No. 1 on their list, it means they’re also watching us because players make plays,” Roy said. “At the end of the day, it helps a lot of guys get looks. It’s just a blessing that we have Coach Rhule as our coach.” 

Rhule had never coached in Texas before taking the Baylor job in December 2016. He hailed from Temple University in his native Northeast. However, he has quickly integrated himself as one of the most respected coaches in the state. His parents spend half the year in Waco now. Last offseason, Rhule convinced 11-year Temple assistant Ed Foley to join the Bears as an associate athletic director. 

Earlier this year, Rhule signed a lengthy contract extension through 2027. According to multiple reports, Rhule’s salary and buyout are both among the biggest in college football. The Athletic reports that his salary is more than $6 million a year, which is more than many NFL coaches. Money won’t be the deciding factor. 

“One thing people don’t realize is coaches, we pick up our families. We rip them out of their homes. We rip them out of the places that they are. Sometimes you do that until you get to a point where you find happy. You shouldn’t mess with happy,” Rhule said. “There’s a lot to accomplish at Baylor. 

“Each and every year, I want to put together a championship-caliber team, and I think we have a chance to be even better next year than we are this year...I think we have a chance to be a perennial national contender, to be in the top 10 and go to the College Football Playoff and play in New Year’s Six bowls.”

At the end of Rhule’s Sugar Bowl press conference, a reporter asked straight up whether Rhule will be back at Baylor next season. 

“Yeah, I plan on that,” Rhule said. “I certainly think I will be.”