Nebraska formally releases full financial details of Matt Rhule's employment contract

Nebraska has formally released the full financial details for new football coach Matt Rhule.

In his first season, Matt Rhule is set to make $5.5 million. That number increases by $1 million annually through 2026, when it’s at $8.5 million. From there, his salary will increase by $1.5 million annually through 2028. Then, the number transitions down to raising by only $500,000 for the last two years of the contract.

That means that in the final year of the contract, 2030, Rhule will be paid $12.5 million by Nebraska.

Matt Rhule is also eligible to make money from bonuses. Those bonuses include a $1 million retention bonus that he is due if he is still the coach on March 1, 2025, March 1, 2027, March 1, 2029, and December 31, 2030.

There are also several “exceptional performance bonuses.” Those include winning or tying for the Big Ten West without an invitation to the Big Ten Championship Game ($100,000), playing in and losing the Big Ten Championship Game ($200,000), and winning the Big Ten Championship Game ($300,000).

Playing in a bowl game is worth $150,000. That number jumps to $250,000 if it’s a CFP bowl game. If that game is a semifinal, then that number once again jumps to $300,000. Playing in the national championship game is worth $350,000 while winning a national championship will net Matt Rhule $650,000.

Notably, the contract also gives Matt Rhule a base salary pool for his assistant coaches of $7 million.

Through December 31, Rhule’s buyout is $7 million if he chooses to leave the university. That number decreases by $1 million annually until it hits $3.5 million. It will then stay at $3.5 million through 2029 before again dropping to $2 million in 2030.

If Matt Rhule is fired without cause, he is entitled to 90% of his base salary for the remaining term. It must be paid within 24 months.