Nebraska football's Matt Rhule makes surprise cameo on 'Lanterns' season finale

Nebraska football secured a 48-23 victory over Maryland in Week 5 of the 2026 college football season, marking their first 5-0 start in a decade. Meanwhile, their coach, Matt Rhule, made an unexpected appearance on the final episode of HBO's "Lanterns" on Sunday, Oct. 4. Rhule, in his fourth season with the Cornhuskers, portrayed himself on the show, walking onto a high school football field in a black Nebraska jacket and hat.

He then handed a red Nebraska cap to a character, Noah Macon, played by Shea Pritchard, saying, "You know, I think you might have just forgotten to put this on today. You wanna see how it fits?" This brief cameo, which included dialogue, added an unexpected twist to the season finale. "Lanterns" was set in Rushville, Nebraska, and its storyline often referenced Nebraska football, with one sub-plot involving a promising quarterback recruit named Macon who was contemplating college football options.

The episode, revolving around characters from the Green Lantern comic book series, was set against the backdrop of a high-stakes game against Indiana on Oct. 10, a game that will likely test Nebraska's undefeated record.