Today was a big day for Nebraska football. The Huskers secured Matt Rhule for the foreseeable future and hopefully it keeps Penn State away until their next firing.
Here is our Corn Nation Roundtable on the topic. Throw your own answers in the comments.
First, what is your reaction to Matt Rhule and Nebraska agreeing to a contract extension? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Loathe it?
Jarek: Woo! I really like this. You can definitely tell the program is headed in the right direction.
Mike: It’s fine. I think my bigger interest is what Matt Rhule asked for and what Nebraska and 1890 were able to agree to to enable this. The size of
Rhule’s salary is a minor point in all of this.
Andy: Love it. Turns out Matt Rhule meant what he said about staying. They got the extension done pretty quickly – a mid-season firing of a coach who just went to the CFP semi’s with a preseason top 5 ranking wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card to start 2025, so it wasn’t like a plan was in place. National prognosticators who swore he was the front runner are licking egg off their noses, always make Borat very happy. And he didn’t take a base raise. Please try to shit on that, everyone.
Nate M: I’m a fan. I think consistency will be a great separator in this next era of college football. The fact that Nebraska gets to take a seat and watch the coaching carousel this off season will be extremely nice. I think Matt Rhule got an extension for what we believe will happen in the future and not what he has done in the past. Now does this get done if Penn State’s job doesn’t come open. No probably not. I’m sure Troy Dannen would have loved to wait until after the season but you have to do what you have to do.
Second, what do you think were some of the most serious topics during the discussions of this contract extension? What needed to be resolved? How did Nebraska benefit?
Jarek: The serious points obviously had to have been the contract buyout and the money for the extension. Nebraska gets a guy who has rebuilt this program and now gets the chance to sustain it instead of leaving after 3 years.
Mike: Rhule’s money was a minor point from my perspective. If you chewed on Rhule’s comments after James Franklin was fired, you can see that Rhule wanted more commitment to take the program to the next level, and that’s almost assuredly at the NIL level. That means a bigger commitment from boosters to 1890 to ensure that Nebraska can field a roster comparable to the other teams in the CFP race. Specific example: offensive line. It’s great to see guys like Eljah Pritchett starting to develop. Now, let’s get three or four more elite level offensive linemen. Nebraska’s historical success started with the offensive line, and while the process to develop greatness up front has changed in this era, that goal is still intact.
Andy: Mike went into it deep, so I’ll just agree – the huge point from Rhule’s side was more money for the roster. It’s not in the press release, but you have to believe he got it. And doesn’t Rhule’s almost under the breath comment last week about teams spending $30-40M for the roster (“I wish we’d do that”) sound like a little shots-fired in hindsight? (Also, spend damn near every penny of that extra money on our lines and our strength and conditioning.)
From the AD side, Dannen probably wanted a buy-out big enough to end the Penn State discussion. $15M? I’d say he got it. Rhule’s base salary remained the same, but he got CFP appearance bonuses that come with a salary bump – in effect, he said he’d like a raise but he’ll earn it. I’d say both sides got what they wanted.
Nate M: I love the fact that Rhule’s base salary stays the same but that it has tremendous incentives. Also, apparently if the College Football Playoff extends beyond 16 teams then he would need to get to the 16 team round of the playoff. Also, I think this indicates that this was more about the money for the roster. If they win then Rhule will get rewarded but he is looking at what they will need to get to the next level.
Third, since we have not read the new official contract, what are some additions to the contract would you have added to help keep Matt Rhule around?
Jarek: Instead of flags at the top of the goalposts, those used car lot wavy things to help distract opposing kickers. Rhule gets to fire Der Weiner Schlinger at the referees using full power for every bad call they make. Lastly, a game day restraining order on Mike Eckler so he doesn’t kill Matt Rhule while celebrating.
Mike: Rhule’s formative years, as a person, player and coach, were in Pennsylvania. So let’s bring the best of Pennsylania to Nebraska: that mean’s Wawa convenience stores and Yuengling beer.
Andy: On the serious side? More cash for the assistants whose groups perform – Mike Ekeler and Dana Holgorsen – I’m lookin’ at you. Check offensive and special teams rankings compared to recent years. Beyond that? At Matt Rhule’s behest, retire Bud Crawford’s 148 and 168 jerseys.
Nate M: We were joking in slack but I threw out an unlimited gift card to D’Leons, Amigos (on 48th and Leighton) and maybe Ginger. Trying to think anything else outside the box? Gyro Kings in Omaha should be on there as well.
Lastly, if Matt Rhule goes to the College Football Playoff every year for the next seven years then do you like the idea of paying him an additional $7 million in base salary? One can only hope right?
Jarek: If that happens, it’s worth EVERY DAMN CENT!!!
Mike: Yes, but at a certain point, just making it to the playoff isn’t going to matter if Nebraska isn’t occasionally winning game in January. The expectations will go up accordingly.
Andy: Chicken feed. Under the NCAA’s new “Cheat away if you can afford it!” policy, Michigan just spent over $30 million to scag their way to a championship. Feels like affording an eventual +$7M to the base salary after 2032 will barely make the papers if the HCMR cashes that ticket for seven straight seasons. Make it rain like Pac Man Jones, Troy Dannen.
Nate M: Yes.
