The rumors came out last night but it is now official. Matt Rhule has agreed to a contract extension with Nebraska through 2032. This would be add an additional two years to his contract.
But that is not
the most interesting part of this.
Reports are that this deal includes a huge incentive for Nebraska to make the College Football Playoff. Every year the Huskers make the CFP, then Matt Rhule’s base salary increases by $1 million. They call it a salary escalator.
On the other side of the coin, Matt Rhule’s buyout increases to $15 million from $5 million. Is that still enough to keep Penn State away?
Matt Rhule has Nebraska sitting at 6-2 before they meet USC this Saturday. Matt Rhule is known for the big jump in year three of his tenures as he had Temple at 10-4 after starting 2-10. Then he went to Baylor where he started 1-11 and ended his third year as 11-3 reaching the Big 12 championship and the Sugar Bowl.
He then tried a stint in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers. He won five games in both of his first two seasons and then didn’t make it out of his third season before he was fired.
Trev Alberts, then the athletic director at Nebraska, fires Scott Frost and then persuades Matt Rhule to take the job at Nebraska. He is known as a program builder. So we shall see how this season ends with Matt Rhule and Nebraska.
Regardless, even if Rhule leaves for Penn State this surely looks like Nebraska did what it could to keep him here.
Here is the statement from the University:
The University of Nebraska and Head Coach Matt Rhule have agreed to a two-year contract extension that extends Rhule’s agreement through the 2032 season. The restructured deal does not change Rhule’s base salary but does include salary escalators for College Football Playoff appearances.
“Coach Rhule has shown he is the right leader at the right time for Nebraska Football. We look forward to him and his family being in Lincoln for a long time,” Nebraska Director of Athletics Troy Dannen said. “Our program has seen significant progress under Matt’s leadership, and at this stage in the evolution of the program continuity and stability are critical. I welcome the opportunity to continue to partner with Matt and his staff to build a program that will make everyone associated with Nebraska Football proud. Go Big Red!”
“Matt Rhule has been building something special at Nebraska — a program rooted in toughness, accountability, and a culture of doing things the right way,” University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold said. “I’m grateful that his leadership will continue, and I’m confident the momentum he’s generating will carry our program — and the pride of Husker Nation — to even greater heights.”
Rhule is in his third season leading the Nebraska program. In 2024, Rhule guided Nebraska to its first winning season in eight years, and to the program’s first bowl victory since 2015. This season, Rhule has led the Huskers to a 6-2 start, the best eight-game record at Nebraska in nine seasons.
Academically, Rhule’s program has achieved at a high level. Following the 2025 spring semester, the cumulative grade-point average of the Nebraska football team was 3.304, the highest in the history of the program.
“The University of Nebraska, the city of Lincoln and the state of Nebraska are special. It is a place our family is proud to call home,” Rhule said. “We have outstanding leadership from Dr. Gold and Troy Dannen, and I appreciate the support and confidence they have shown in our staff. Our focus remains on building Nebraska Football into a perennial championship contender.”
Nebraska returns to the field on Saturday night when it hosts USC at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
