Matt Rhule addresses how Nebraska will handle spring transfer window

Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule took over the job at the same time that NIL and the Transfer Portal took off in college sports. That made for a unique change in how he has to build a program.

Despite that change, Rhule maintains an approach from when he first became a head coach. So, even with the spring Transfer Portal window open, he still wants to focus on conversations with individual players about their improvement and role.

“I’m going to still coach the guys as if it is 10 years ago,” Matt Rhule said. “In terms of I’m going to meet with every player after spring and talk about what they need to do to become a great player. I put up a picture of Cam Jurgens the other day for the guys. Like I did a photo display and the first picture was him in spandex at a Coach [Scott] Frost or Go Big Red camp, and they didn’t even fit. Then it was him while he was here, then him at pro day, the transition, right. Did 16-year-old Cam Jurgens know that someday, he would sign an extension for $69 million? I don’t know, but he stayed in the process.”

NIL is often going to be a factor in transfers. However, Rhule made it clear that he isn’t involved in those negotiations. He has staff for that. Instead, he likes to focus his conversations on football.

“My job, when I meet with the guys after spring ball, is always to tell them ‘This is what I think you need to do.’ I’m accessible 24/7. I’m happy to talk to guys. I don’t talk to guys about money. I don’t talk to guys about money. I don’t think that’s good business. I think my conversations with guys should be about football. Pat [Stewart] and Sean [Padden] are here to talk about the financial piece when there’s a financial component. There’s a reason why I have an agent. If there’s something in my contract, I don’t want to start having those conversations. I’m not adept at that.”

To this point in the offseason, Nebraska has the 37th-ranked transfer class in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 College Football Team Transfer Portal Rankings. That’s included seeing 32 players exit the program and 16 players enter the program as Matt Rhule looks to balance the roster moving forward.

“So, yeah, guys can come talk to us anytime. Guys have come in to me and some guys have asked ‘Where do you think I fit? Where am I at in the 105?’ I’ve been honest with everyone. I’ve told them I’m here for them at any point this week. I have two rules. I don’t want to talk about any other players. I didn’t get into college football to be in this business of paying different people. It is what it is and I’m happy they’re getting stuff, but it is hard. He’s getting one amount and you’re getting another. That can be very hard for guys. I’m not here to talk badly about another player on the team and I’m not here to spend a lot of time talking about money,” Rhule said.

“I’m here to talk about football. Pat and those guys will talk about the money but we won’t talk about other guys. It’s on a person-by-person basis. If a guy wants to talk to me if a guy is thinking about going into the portal. Early on, the first time through the portal, I probably didn’t understand exactly how to do it. Now, I’m like, come talk to me if you have any questions. I’ll tell you where I see you guys at. I’ve had players come in and say to me ‘Coach, I’ve got three head coaches calling my mom, telling her I should go here. What should I do?’ I’m not saying they are, but kids feel all kinds of pressure and I just do my best to tell them ‘I know how it feels, here’s where I see you.’”

Ultimately, Matt Rhule didn’t lay out a broad plan for anything Matt Rhule is looking for in his team through the Transfer Portal. Instead, he insisted it’s going to be about each individual case and doing what’s best for the individual player.

“So, it’s kind of fluid… There’s no set way to do this in my mind in terms of each player, so it’s kind of on a case-by-case basis,” Rhule said. “But we do meet with every player after spring to talk about what they need to do. Even if you’re in the 105, even if you’re a starter, you’re trying to accelerate and develop.”