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Nebraska Cornhuskers hire Matt Rhule as new head coach

Screenshot 2023-07-18 at 4.54.37 PMby:Riley Gates•11/26/22•

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CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 26: Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule during a NFL preseason football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Carolina Panthers on August 26, 2022 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have found the next head coach for their program. Former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule has been tabbed as the leader of the program moving forward, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

While his NFL struggles are at the front of people’s minds right now, Rhule had massive success in college from 2013-2019. Rhule got his first coaching job at Temple in 2013, inheriting a program that was fresh off a 4-7 season. While Rhule struggled to 2-10 in his first year, he had the Owls at 6-6 in Year 2 and then 10-4 and playing in a bowl game in Year 3. A second 10-win season in 2016 led to Rhule taking over at Baylor.

Upon his arrival at Baylor, Rhule had to turn around a program that had fallen into massive scandal and had completely fallen off after massive success with Art Briles. Rhule was 1-11 during his first season with the Bears but took them to a bowl game in his second season. Rhule went 11-3 and played in the Sugar Bowl in his third season at Baylor, leading to him getting the Panthers job.

Inheriting a franchise that won five games in the year prior to his arrival, Rhule did not make it three full seasons as the head coach of the Panthers. Rhule went 5-11 in his first year and 5-12 in his second season. After starting 1-4 on the 2022 season, Carolina decided to part ways with Rhule, making him one of the hottest names on the college coaching market.

Nebraska looks for a drastic change

Now the head coach of an iconic college football program, Rhule will be tasked with getting Nebraska back on top once again. The Cornhuskers won nine or more games for seven straight seasons under Bo Pelini but fired him in 2014. Mike Riley took over in 2015 but could not get things rolling, thus starting Nebraska’s struggles. Riley went 19-19 in three seasons, leading to his firing in 2017.

Following Riley’s dismissal, Nebraska hired former quarterback Scott Frost to revive the program. While Frost had great success at UCF, it did not carry over to his alma mater. Frost went a combined 15-29 in his first four seasons at Nebraska and then started 1-2 in 2022 before he was fired. The Cornhuskers never made a bowl game under Frost.