Fair Expectation for Matt Rhule This Season?

[ZakHerbstreit]

Fall camp is almost here, so I wanted to take a look at what to expect from Nebraska heading into Year 4 under Matt Rhule.

There are plenty of reasons for Husker fans to feel more optimistic than they have in recent years. Give it a watch and let me know your expectations for Nebraska in 2026.

 

[dinglefritz]

Fall camp is almost here, so I wanted to take a look at what to expect from Nebraska heading into Year 4 under Matt Rhule.

There are plenty of reasons for Husker fans to feel more optimistic than they have in recent years. Give it a watch and let me know your expectations for Nebraska in 2026.

So when do practices start? I NEED my football fix.

 

[king_kong__]

So when do practices start? I NEED my football fix.

today?

has to be soon

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

My hope is twofold:
1. That our defense is greatly improved. If it isn’t, nothing else matters. 5-7 if our defense still sucks. Potentially 9-3 if our defense is much better.
2. That we finally see the offensive ingenuity and creativity of Holgerson when he isn’t hamstrung by an overrated prima dona lead footed QB.

If we get those two things I see a great season ahead.

 

[orclover11]

My hope is twofold:
1. That our defense is greatly improved. If it isn’t, nothing else matters. 5-7 if our defense still sucks. Potentially 9-3 if our defense is much better.
2. That we finally see the offensive ingenuity and creativity of Holgerson when he isn’t hamstrung by an overrated prima dona lead footed QB.

If we get those two things I see a great season ahead.

We were 1-3, got blown out by two teams with replacement coaches without lead foot. Oh, and we had an all-conference running back, which we no longer have. Fools hope rests on position coaches, one of which came from a lower conference and brought players and coaches with him from lower conference. Head guy is still in charge and responsible for all of the mess the program faces, even while exacerbating the mess by leveraging for an irresponsible contract out of greed. The days of expecting millionaires to get the most money they can at the expense of their team is long gone. We just have a scammer as a coach.

 

[Anon1752115983]

My hope is twofold:
1. That our defense is greatly improved. If it isn’t, nothing else matters. 5-7 if our defense still sucks. Potentially 9-3 if our defense is much better.
2. That we finally see the offensive ingenuity and creativity of Holgerson when he isn’t hamstrung by an overrated prima dona lead footed QB.

If we get those two things I see a great season ahead.

My hope may be even more fundamental. I want to see a team that plays hard, tough, generally mistake-free football. When we tackle someone, I'd like to see him fall backwards rather than forward for another three yards. No more "lookout" blocks from the offensive tackles. Players who have been drilled, developed, who know their assignments and execute them. We're going to get beat, possibly bad, by Ohio State and Indiana. But if we go toe-to-toe with them and hit them all game, I'll be heartened. Not satisfied, but seeing progress

 

[HuskerO58]

We were 1-3, got blown out by two teams with replacement coaches without lead foot. Oh, and we had an all-conference running back, which we no longer have. Fools hope rests on position coaches, one of which came from a lower conference and brought players and coaches with him from lower conference. Head guy is still in charge and responsible for all of the mess the program faces, even while exacerbating the mess by leveraging for an irresponsible contract out of greed. The days of expecting millionaires to get the most money they can at the expense of their team is long gone. We just have a scammer as a coach.

Does Rhule’s contract have anything to do with how this team will or won't succeed?

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

This team lacks talent so you cannot expect too much. The offense I imagine will be put into a bind by always having to score. The problem is I don’t see where we have the horses to do that.

 

[Vanhusker]

My hope is twofold:
1. That our defense is greatly improved. If it isn’t, nothing else matters. 5-7 if our defense still sucks. Potentially 9-3 if our defense is much better.
2. That we finally see the offensive ingenuity and creativity of Holgerson when he isn’t hamstrung by an overrated prima dona lead footed QB.

If we get those two things I see a great season ahead.

"Holgerson when he isn’t hamstrung by an overrated prima dona lead footed QB." I always call out and actual lol. Well done, haha

 

[dinglefritz]

This team lacks talent so you cannot expect too much. The offense I imagine will be put into a bind by always having to score. The problem is I don’t see where we have the horses to do that.

Defensive line concerns me greatly.

 

[orclover11]

Does Rhule’s contract have anything to do with how this team will or won't succeed?

Does money matter or not?

 

[dinglefritz]

My hope is twofold:
1. That our defense is greatly improved. If it isn’t, nothing else matters. 5-7 if our defense still sucks. Potentially 9-3 if our defense is much better.
2. That we finally see the offensive ingenuity and creativity of Holgerson when he isn’t hamstrung by an overrated prima dona lead footed QB.

If we get those two things I see a great season ahead.

I think this team will only go as far as the talent on the D line lets it. I’m hopeful but fearful all at the same time. Won’t be surprised if we give up a bunch of rushing yards to mediocre teams. Aurich may be a great coordinator but I’m afraid we don’t have the horses we need up front. So then if that ends up being the case what do you do?

 

[singlet]

Win 8 regular season games or forever be relegated to the "yet another failed HC at Nebraska" list. Oh, and get 9 wins total.

 

[goldencohusker]

Based on Matt's compensation and knowing its year 4, my expectation is that he gets at least 7 wins in the regular season, including all noncon games and 4-5 conference wins. My optimism is less than my expectation as I don't see more than 3 conference wins being likely. We've been banking on "change" being the cure to our woes and source of optimism seemingly every year for the past decade. It would be nice to be able to base optimism on finishing a season strong and retaining the staff responsible for that momentum,.

 

[dinglefritz]

Based on Matt's compensation and knowing its year 4, my expectation is that he gets at least 7 wins in the regular season, including all noncon games and 4-5 conference wins. My optimism is less than my expectation as I don't see more than 3 conference wins being likely. We've been banking on "change" being the cure to our woes and source of optimism seemingly every year for the past decade. It would be nice to be able to base optimism on finishing a season strong and retaining the staff responsible for that momentum,.

He’s been grossly over paid. That said, he’s ours now so what Trev gave him and Dannen extended isn’t really relevant. Win.

 

[HuskerO58]

Does money matter or not?

On whether you're going to be successful or not as a P4 college football head coach?

You tell me.

- If it doesnt, then why even bring it up?
- If it does, that's fine. Then what does Rhule need to be paid in order to become successful here at Nebraska?

 

[orclover11]

On whether you're going to be successful or not as a P4 college football head coach?

You tell me.

- If it doesnt, then why even bring it up?
- If it does, that's fine. Then what does Rhule need to be paid in order to become successful here at Nebraska?

Zero sum game in a highly competitive sport with extremely small margins. Top headline today was that OSU got a 17 million dollar deal with JP Morgan for jersey patches. Every cent that coach takes in must be paid back with coaching competence or the program fails. Every buyout dollar comes from a pool that could have been spent on upgrades or player NIL, salaries, or private jets, new technology, paying support staff. Rutgers, Maryland, Northwestern suck because they are behind the game, have never been good, and are playing catch up. Nebraska sucks because of criminal incompetence and stupidity, wastefulness and idiots who don't care how much the coach makes.

Why did Harbaugh take a pay cut after multiple 10 win seasons, right before he won a national championship? To show Michigan leadership that he was serious about winning. Why did Rhule push for a raise at the high point of a season where we lost our last three games by 20+ points. Because he doesn't care about winning. If you haven't gathered anything yet, Matt Rhule cares about Matt Rhule only. I've been against his scam since day 1 because I am sensitive to scammers, I know scammers because I have some skill as a scammer. Matt Rhule is a scammer and we would be better off cutting him loose right now and hiring an interim.

He is playing a game. A game where he maximizes his income and wealth, he is a mercenary. Every action he takes is to support winning this game. I suppose it helps him deal with never winning anything as a head coach after a decade and coming to the end of his career. It justifies moving multiple times without building anything of substance, and then being kicked out of the facilities at his last stop. The greed game is perfectly reasonable but it doesn't work when building a program.

 

[orclover11]

Does Rhule’s contract have anything to do with how this team will or won't succeed?

He’s been grossly over paid. That said, he’s ours now so what Trev gave him and Dannen extended isn’t really relevant. Win.

This is like running a business, spending irresponsibly, and then when you open shop telling your employees, "well we made a lot of bad decisions, wasted a lot of money, are lacking talent, resources as a result, but that isn't relevant...go win".

I get it, you are coping, want to enjoy football again after a break. And fortunately we have the easiest schedule in the country for five games. We could not ask for a better setup but it is still just masking and delaying real progress for the future. All major sports relying on tanking and rebuilding, college football not as much because the best teams have a lot of momentum but teams like Nebraska with historic incompetence and wastefulness have to evaluate the opportunity cost of extended mediocrity versus punctual collapse and rebuild. I am sure a 3 win season, Rhule fired mid-season, is the best thing for the long term health of the program. Otherwise I fear he will be here until 2030 with only 6-7 win seasons to show for it. At least a rebuild would be interesting to watch. Most Fans know how the season is going to turn out. Between 5-7 wins, best win against Michigan State on the road, blowout losses to good teams.

The one saving grace for him, and I am sure he knows this is next years recruiting class. I have to assume based on the low quality of the product on the field and the lack of charisma in our coaching staff that he is over-paying these recruits to get them to come here, instead of spending that money on transfer portal guys to make the current team better. He is betting we won't fire a coach with a top 15 recruiting class. Even if few of these kids ever produce for Nebraska.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

I expect to be disappointed.

 

[Spinner4]

Defensive line concerns me greatly.

Run the ball, stop the run, win the game

RB & D-Line the two weakest positions

So there’s that

 

[RoryMurray]

Zero sum game in a highly competitive sport with extremely small margins. Top headline today was that OSU got a 17 million dollar deal with JP Morgan for jersey patches. Every cent that coach takes in must be paid back with coaching competence or the program fails. Every buyout dollar comes from a pool that could have been spent on upgrades or player NIL, salaries, or private jets, new technology, paying support staff. Rutgers, Maryland, Northwestern suck because they are behind the game, have never been good, and are playing catch up. Nebraska sucks because of criminal incompetence and stupidity, wastefulness and idiots who don't care how much the coach makes.

Why did Harbaugh take a pay cut after multiple 10 win seasons, right before he won a national championship? To show Michigan leadership that he was serious about winning. Why did Rhule push for a raise at the high point of a season where we lost our last three games by 20+ points. Because he doesn't care about winning. If you haven't gathered anything yet, Matt Rhule cares about Matt Rhule only. I've been against his scam since day 1 because I am sensitive to scammers, I know scammers because I have some skill as a scammer. Matt Rhule is a scammer and we would be better off cutting him loose right now and hiring an interim.

He is playing a game. A game where he maximizes his income and wealth, he is a mercenary. Every action he takes is to support winning this game. I suppose it helps him deal with never winning anything as a head coach after a decade and coming to the end of his career. It justifies moving multiple times without building anything of substance, and then being kicked out of the facilities at his last stop. The greed game is perfectly reasonable but it doesn't work when building a program.

So how and who do you scam??

 

[dinglefritz]

This is like running a business, spending irresponsibly, and then when you open shop telling your employees, "well we made a lot of bad decisions, wasted a lot of money, are lacking talent, resources as a result, but that isn't relevant...go win".

I get it, you are coping, want to enjoy football again after a break. And fortunately we have the easiest schedule in the country for five games. We could not ask for a better setup but it is still just masking and delaying real progress for the future. All major sports relying on tanking and rebuilding, college football not as much because the best teams have a lot of momentum but teams like Nebraska with historic incompetence and wastefulness have to evaluate the opportunity cost of extended mediocrity versus punctual collapse and rebuild. I am sure a 3 win season, Rhule fired mid-season, is the best thing for the long term health of the program. Otherwise I fear he will be here until 2030 with only 6-7 win seasons to show for it. At least a rebuild would be interesting to watch. Most Fans know how the season is going to turn out. Between 5-7 wins, best win against Michigan State on the road, blowout losses to good teams.

The one saving grace for him, and I am sure he knows this is next years recruiting class. I have to assume based on the low quality of the product on the field and the lack of charisma in our coaching staff that he is over-paying these recruits to get them to come here, instead of spending that money on transfer portal guys to make the current team better. He is betting we won't fire a coach with a top 15 recruiting class. Even if few of these kids ever produce for Nebraska.

We can’t change what was done. We owe the money whether he stays or goes. Best case is for him to win.

 

[OxfordComma]

We are making lists for one of the easiest non-con schedules in the country. And we are playing what is projected to be 3 of the bottom 4 teams in the B1G. Need to win every one of those games. That’s 6. That’s a bowl game

If somebody else on the schedule ends up having a surprisingly bad year, like Washington or Illinois, we should beat them too. If not, we should still beat one of those teams to make me somewhat satisfied. Otherwise, all we did was beat putrid teams and lost to everyone with a pulse. I want something more after 4 years. I also think 6-6 doesn’t keep the 2027 class intact.

 

[TheRealPeliniTheCrutch]

If they have ANY imagination in the run game this year, and they can figure out run fits with the LBs + Safeties, I expect this to be a pretty good team actually.

 

[HuskerO58]

Zero sum game in a highly competitive sport with extremely small margins. Top headline today was that OSU got a 17 million dollar deal with JP Morgan for jersey patches. Every cent that coach takes in must be paid back with coaching competence or the program fails. Every buyout dollar comes from a pool that could have been spent on upgrades or player NIL, salaries, or private jets, new technology, paying support staff. Rutgers, Maryland, Northwestern suck because they are behind the game, have never been good, and are playing catch up. Nebraska sucks because of criminal incompetence and stupidity, wastefulness and idiots who don't care how much the coach makes.

Why did Harbaugh take a pay cut after multiple 10 win seasons, right before he won a national championship? To show Michigan leadership that he was serious about winning. Why did Rhule push for a raise at the high point of a season where we lost our last three games by 20+ points. Because he doesn't care about winning. If you haven't gathered anything yet, Matt Rhule cares about Matt Rhule only. I've been against his scam since day 1 because I am sensitive to scammers, I know scammers because I have some skill as a scammer. Matt Rhule is a scammer and we would be better off cutting him loose right now and hiring an interim.

He is playing a game. A game where he maximizes his income and wealth, he is a mercenary. Every action he takes is to support winning this game. I suppose it helps him deal with never winning anything as a head coach after a decade and coming to the end of his career. It justifies moving multiple times without building anything of substance, and then being kicked out of the facilities at his last stop. The greed game is perfectly reasonable but it doesn't work when building a program.

So if Harbaugh didn't take a pay cut, would Michigan not have won a natty? Did Saban ever take a pay cut with Bama? How did Ryan Day finally win a Natty without taking a pay cut?
Lastly, Debo Sweeney has slipped a little bit, would he find great success again if he were to take a pay cut?

Your claim seems to insinuate that if Rhule were to take a pay cut, then somehow he'd have greater success at Nebraska. Which is really really dumb.

What's actually happening is that Rhule would have the same level of success of Nebraska regardless of what we're paying him. It could be $1M per year or $15M per year, the results will be the same. The same goes for any other P4 head coach.

 

[TheRealPeliniTheCrutch]

I fully expect 6 wins even though they should win 7 or 8.

Seat will be wildly hot in the off-season.

 

[orclover11]

We can’t change what was done. We owe the money whether he stays or goes. Best case is for him to win.

Best case is to win >=9 games, 2nd best case is to win <=3 games, worst case is win 5 games and rinse and repeat. I also don't really trust the AD at all to have a coach in waiting right now, I think that is the depressing thing about the extension. It appears that Dannon is basing his entire career on Rhule instead of holding Rhule to high standards because he wasn't his hire, then resetting with his own hire.

Giving that extension, and then having to fall back and pay the buyout early is the undoing of the AD as well. That extension might be the undoing of the entire program. Before it, we were 6-3...after it 1-4 and no off ramp. My sense is that the leadership at Nebraska doesn't enjoy the tension of competition and doesn't like to be exposed to competency. When a change needs to be made, it is almost universally done too quickly, with petulance, and stupidity. Really going all the way back to Solich.

 

[RBigredMax1]

Beat a ranked team … beat Iowa … 8-9 wins in regular season.

 

[jeans1515]

9 wins or the season is a failure.

That means we played meaningful games win or lose.

 

[Cruel Halo]

5 wins

 

[Zeke Husker]

Beat a ranked team … beat Iowa … 8-9 wins in regular season.

What if they beat 2 ranked teams, win 9 games but lose to Iowa

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

We have three guaranteed wins and three guaranteed losses on this year’s schedule. We have two probable wins with MSU and Rutgers. We have two toss up games with Maryland and Illinois. We have probable losses with Washington and Iowa.
Smells like a 6-6 year to me.

 

[orclover11]

So if Harbaugh didn't take a pay cut, would Michigan not have won a natty? Did Saban ever take a pay cut with Bama? How did Ryan Day finally win a Natty without taking a pay cut?
Lastly, Debo Sweeney has slipped a little bit, would he find great success again if he were to take a pay cut?

Your claim seems to insinuate that if Rhule were to take a pay cut, then somehow he'd have greater success at Nebraska. Which is really really dumb.

What's actually happening is that Rhule would have the same level of success of Nebraska regardless of what we're paying him. It could be $1M per year or $15M per year, the results will be the same. The same goes for any other P4 head coach.

So you agree that we should stop paying head coaches then? Glad we are on the same page then.

 

[Spinner4]

5–0 Start:
Rhule goes on the Pat McAfee Show to brag about how far ahead of schedule they are and takes all the credit himself. Claims the Huskers are going to surprise a lot of people against Indiana.

5–2:
After getting boat-raced twice in a row by IU and Oregon, he tells us we shouldn't expect Nebraska to compete with those programs yet. He "blames himself," but subtly shifts the heat onto everyone else, including a former staff that hasn't coached here in half a decade.

5–3:
Barely loses to UW. Blames the officials, says the guys played great, and talks a lot of smack in the postgame

5–4:
Blown out by Illinois. Goes into full hiding. Publicly questions why the media and fans are being "so negative."

6–4:
Beats Rutgers. Immediately brags about making a bowl game.

6–6 Finish:
Goes dark for the rest of the year. Calls it a "rebuild year" and promises that 2027 will finally be the year the Huskers are back.

Cactus Bowl - Loss to WV.

Rhule 25-26, but people praise how great he’s turned around the program going to 3 straight bowls, while ignoring his over all losing record and 13-23 conference record.

EJ Barthel and Dana get fired

 

[RBigredMax1]

5–0 Start:
Rhule goes on the Pat McAfee Show to brag about how far ahead of schedule they are and takes all the credit himself. Claims the Huskers are going to surprise a lot of people against Indiana.

5–2:
After getting boat-raced twice in a row by IU and Oregon, he tells us we shouldn't expect Nebraska to compete with those programs yet. He "blames himself," but subtly shifts the heat onto everyone else, including a former staff that hasn't coached here in half a decade.

5–3:
Barely loses to UW. Blames the officials, says the guys played great, and talks a lot of smack in the postgame

5–4:
Blown out by Illinois. Goes into full hiding. Publicly questions why the media and fans are being "so negative."

6–4:
Beats Rutgers. Immediately brags about making a bowl game.

6–6 Finish:
Goes dark for the rest of the year. Calls it a "rebuild year" and promises that 2027 will finally be the year the Huskers are back.

Cactus Bowl - Loss to WV.

Rhule 25-26, but people praise how great he’s turned around the program going to 3 straight bowls, while ignoring his over all losing record and 13-23 conference record.

EJ Barthel and Dana get fired

Ugh - this hurts my head for how real this could be.

 

[Kakdawg]

We were 1-3, got blown out by two teams with replacement coaches without lead foot. Oh, and we had an all-conference running back, which we no longer have. Fools hope rests on position coaches, one of which came from a lower conference and brought players and coaches with him from lower conference. Head guy is still in charge and responsible for all of the mess the program faces, even while exacerbating the mess by leveraging for an irresponsible contract out of greed. The days of expecting millionaires to get the most money they can at the expense of their team is long gone. We just have a scammer as a coach.

Is this just another way to say you hate Matt Rhule? Lol...we already knew that.



Holla

 

[Kakdawg]

This team lacks talent so you cannot expect too much. The offense I imagine will be put into a bind by always having to score. The problem is I don’t see where we have the horses to do that.

I actually kinda disagree. Offensively this may be our most talented team since Rhule has been here. I know the RB room is highly unproven. But if we are being honest we haven't liked the RB room at the beginning of any year since Rhule has been here(last year included).

Outside of that I think we have our best group of OL and WRs/TE since Rhule has been here. I think Colandras ability to use his feet open up another dimension which will make the offense more dangerous and versatile.

Won't get ahead of myself but I like the look of the OL so far.



Holla

 

[orclover11]

I actually kinda disagree. Offensively this may be our most talented team since Rhule has been here. I know the RB room is highly unproven. But if we are being honest we haven't liked the RB room at the beginning of any year since Rhule has been here(last year included).

Outside of that I think we have our best group of OL and WRs/TE since Rhule has been here. I think Colandras ability to use his feet open up another dimension which will make the offense more dangerous and versatile.

Won't get ahead of myself but I like the look of the OL so far.



Holla

This season seems similar to the 2023 season, except we don't have a good defense. This is something every fan is overlooking. Everything is about oline, new mobile qb but we couldn't stop anybody last year and didn't get better up front, and we lost our strength, which was the secondary. Sims was similar in career stats to Colandrea when we got him, and he at least played in a power conference. I think people will be reminded how bad this staff coaches qbs now that Dylan is gone. Satt might not be coaching them and calling plays but Rhule is still micromanaging everything while not being able to actually coach. Can you name a husker qb who improved measurably under Rhule?

Our new coaches might be great. Tony was great initially until he was hamstrung by the Rhule and Snow. I just don't see Rhule being able to squeeze the most out of the staff and players without making it about himself. Four years in we have enough data to know what is going to happen.

 

[davecisar]

So if Harbaugh didn't take a pay cut, would Michigan not have won a natty? Did Saban ever take a pay cut with Bama? How did Ryan Day finally win a Natty without taking a pay cut?
Lastly, Debo Sweeney has slipped a little bit, would he find great success again if he were to take a pay cut?

Your claim seems to insinuate that if Rhule were to take a pay cut, then somehow he'd have greater success at Nebraska. Which is really really dumb.

What's actually happening is that Rhule would have the same level of success of Nebraska regardless of what we're paying him. It could be $1M per year or $15M per year, the results will be the same. The same goes for any other P4 head coach.

So if your theory is true- that day MRs pay goes from 10 million per year to 1 million per year and that $9 million were applied to player salaries- there would be no change in outcome?
9 million more dollars?
Then why are we bothering to pay players or trying to get the funding up in thst area?

 

[OxfordComma]

I actually kinda disagree. Offensively this may be our most talented team since Rhule has been here. I know the RB room is highly unproven. But if we are being honest we haven't liked the RB room at the beginning of any year since Rhule has been here(last year included).

Outside of that I think we have our best group of OL and WRs/TE since Rhule has been here. I think Colandras ability to use his feet open up another dimension which will make the offense more dangerous and versatile.

Won't get ahead of myself but I like the look of the OL so far.



Holla

Which is why I am not a fan of the RB coach. Piss poor recruiter.