Matt Rhule to Nebraska could be exactly what the Cornhuskers need to return to former glory.
Although the days of running the wishbone are firmly in the rearview mirror, Matt Rhule could be the one to help Nebraska return to national prominence as the Cornhuskers’ next head coach.
Rhule may have fizzled out in the NFL leading the Carolina Panthers, but his successes in college at Baylor and Temple before that are firmly on everyone’s minds. No situation is too dire and no program is bad enough for Rhule not to achieve greatness as its marquee college coach. Although it will not happen right away, Rhule should have Nebraska humming midway through this decade.
With ESPN’s Chris Low reporting that Nebraska is zeroing in on Rhule as its next head coach, here are three reasons why he can be the man to return the Cornhuskers to glory in the next few years.
Matt Rhule to Nebraska: Why he could be the one to bring the Cornhuskers back
3. Matt Rhule has already had great success coaching at the Power Five level
The best indicator of future performance is past results. While Scott Frost had phenomenal success at UCF before taking over his alma mater, that was Group of Five football. Rhule may have succeed at that level too when at Temple, but you cannot overlook the incredible job he did at Baylor. He took the Bears to a Big 12 Championship game in the wake of the Art Briles scandal…
You cannot deny how difficult of a situation Rhule inherited when he left Temple to go to Baylor.
2. Matt Rhule’s NFL experience could be key in navigating NIL and transfer portal
Although most of his experience in the NFL was not great, being part of a few offseasons involving drafting players and signing free agents may bode well for Rhule’s future run in Lincoln. One would think NIL and the transfer portal are two things in Nebraska’s favor many of its recent coaches did not have working for them. This is new for Rhule, but his pro experience is somewhat transferable.
College football is becoming more like the NFL, as Rhule has had meaningful experience in both.
1. Nebraska has a better football history, more resources than Baylor and Temple
We have seen historically strong programs that have been down in recent years rebound in the new college football landscape. The changes across college athletics have in a way played back into the favor of teams like Tennessee and Texas. Since Nebraska football is still a big deal, Rhule will have more football history and resources to lean on than what had had at Baylor or Temple.
Few college coaches are as well-equipped to take over a down program like Nebraska than Rhule.
For more College Football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.