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The Nebraska football team is midway through the 2025 season, but it’s already thinking about the future. The program extended head coach Matt Rhule after eight games.
That decision comes amid a Penn State coaching search following the firing of James Franklin. Rhule’s name has consistently been linked to the job.
Some have questioned that contract extension given the Cornhuskers‘ results throughout Rhule’s tenure. The coach has posted an 18-15 overall record across 33 games.
That includes a 9-14 mark in Big Ten play, as well as an 0-7 record against AP Top 25 foes.
Nebraska was 12-13 in Rhule first two seasons. Year 3 was expected to be different. It might not be.
Nebraska will miss the College Football Playoff again.
The Cornhuskers hoped to compete for a national title in 2025. It does not appear that will be the case.
“Playoffs next year,” said starting QB Dylan Raiola after a win over Boston College in last year’s Pinstripe Bowl. “It’s as simple as that.”
The team got off to a good start in that championship pursuit.
Nebraska won five of its first six games with the lone loss coming by three points vs. Michigan. Playoff chances, unfortunately, have since died.
The Cornhuskers were beaten soundly by Minnesota in mid-October. That loss came as speculation of Matt Rhule’s departure for Penn State surfaced.
The Nittany Lions fired James Franklin on October 12th. Rhule was named the top candidate. The Cornhuskers lost the following Saturday.
Was the team distracted? Maybe.
Rhule did his best to reaffirm his commitment to the program throughout that week. It might’ve taken away from his ability to coach.
That loss all but ended national title aspirations. The Cornhuskers are 6-2 heading into a Week 10 matchup vs. USC. They likely need to win out to make a College Football Playoff field.
Despite hosting the Trojans, Nebraska is a 6-point underdog at home. It may not be favored in future meetings with Penn State and Iowa, either.
In all likelihood, there is at least one more loss on the Huskers’ schedule. The preseason playoff expectations will not be met. Still, the program is rewarding its head coach.
Matt Rhule got a contract extension.
Much of this seemed a way of keeping the coach put in Lincoln. His buyout tripled. He will be on the hook for $15 million should he leave as opposed to the previous $5 million. He will also get two more years on his deal.
Rhule’s base pay will not increase. His incentives, however, will.
Most notably, he will receive major bonuses for playoff appearances. Every time the Cornhuskers make the CFP, Rhule’s salary goes up!
There’s an innovative new clause in the deal that states every time Nebraska qualifies for the CFP, Rhule’s base salary for each year on the deal increases by $1 million.
-ESPN
He will not meet the terms of that clause in 2025 should the season unfold as the sportsbooks expect. He will, however, have a chance to do so next year, and potentially through 2032.