Matt Rhule Makes Strong Statement on Nebraska’s Future Before Indiana Game

Through the opening month of the season, Nebraska has represented a formidable force in the Big Ten. The Cornhuskers have stood atop the conference with an undefeated record of 5-0, triumphing over Ohio, Bowling Green, North Dakota, Michigan State, and Maryland, each by a margin of twenty points or more. However, Saturday will mark the decisive challenge when No. 7 Indiana, another undefeated squad, arrives in Lincoln.

With less than two and a half days left until kickoff, Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule addressed his choice to remain at Nebraska over accepting a head coaching vacancy from previous years, and his aspirations for shaping the future of Lincoln.

Rhule made it clear during an interview on Bussin’ & Pate on Campus that there had been no consideration of departing Nebraska. He emphasized his belief in both the institution and its potential, stating, "That’s because I believe not only in the place, but what it could be." Rhule underscored the necessity for alignment between expectations and performance.

"You have to give people the resources. If you want to win a national championship, just look at what national championship teams are doing. And let’s spend that. Let’s do that," he advised.

Rhule expressed confidence in Nebraska’s resources, committing to investing them into the roster and progressing the program. Notably, he highlighted his dedication to building the institution on time-tested methods. He stated, "If you hire me, you’re hiring someone that is going to build things the old school way. The Nebraska way, and try to build it on concrete."

The development of programs from the ground up is a trait Rhule is well-known for. His career began at Temple, where he started 2-10 before achieving back-to-back double-digit win seasons and leading the Owls to two consecutive bowl games. Subsequently, Rhule transformed Baylor from a one-win team into one of the most formidable outfits in the Big 12, culminating in an 11-3 record and a ranking of No. 13 in the final AP poll during the 2019 season.

In his fourth season at Nebraska, Rhule’s strategy is evident in the team's recent performance. The Cornhuskers started their current campaign with a 5-7 record, but followed it with two back-to-back 7-6 seasons. However, this season has seen them bounce back to a 5-0 record and are poised to make a significant impact by defeating the defending champions on Saturday.