Tag: Matt Rhule

ESPN’s Herbstreit talks about Nebraska football, Dylan Raiola and Matt Rhule

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule received some praise from one of college football’s top analysts.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule received praise from one of college football’s top analysts. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit appeared on the Pat McAfee show earlier in the week.

While discussing the current landscape of college football, Herstreit was asked about the Husker head coach and his early work at Nebraska. The analyst believes that Rhule is a perfect fit for college football.

“I think he knew when he went to Lincoln and got out of the NFL that he missed college. I think he and his family missed that environment. I think he was very selective, he had a lot of opportunities. He knew what he was facing. They have not won to the level their fanbase expects to the win in a long time. He’s doing it the right way.”

Herbstreit was also asked about quarterback Dylan Raiola and the impact he’s already had on the program.

“This kid was verbal to Georgia and could have named his number for NIL. I don’t know if he was the No. 1 recruit but if he wasn’t, he was right there. Ends up because of his dad legacy and his family history in Lincoln, he wants to be a part of  getting this thing back up and going.”

Nebraska will kick off the 2024 college football season against UTEP on August 31. The Huskers have yet to name a starting quarterback for the season opener.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Rhule talks about quarterback competition at Big Ten Media Days

Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule spoke to ESPN’s Pete Thamel while at Big Ten Media Days earlier in the week.

Nebraska head football coach Matt Rhule spoke to ESPN’s Pete Thamel while at Big Ten Media Days earlier in the week. Rhule was asked about his initial impressions of the newly expanded Big Ten Conference.

It’s like being at an NFL’s coaches meeting. It’s a national conference and it’s the best of the best.

Rhule was also asked about Year 2 at Nebraska and if he believes the players are ready to take that next step.

I think when the players start to get confident because of the work they put in. We’re working at a very high level. When they walk around that air of confidence. You know you’re going to make a jump that year and I see that with our guys.

The Husker head coach was asked about the team’s quarterback competition and what Nebraska’s plan will be entering the 2024 college football season.

Dylan is a special player. He comes from a special family. His father spent 14 years in the NFL. He knows the preparation. He knows the process. You’re blessed. I’m excited to see all three of those guys. They’ve worked so hard this summer and I think the first part of camp is just seeing where they are. In the new college football with a 12 team playoff, you know you’re looking at 16 games. You better No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 ready to play.

Nebraska will kickoff the 2024 college football season on August 31 when they welcome UTEP to Memorial Stadium.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Rhule comments on how the new player limits could effect walk-ons

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have always been known for having a successful walk-on program.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have always been known for having a successful walk-on program. That could soon be a thing of the past if a new NCAA rule goes into effect.

The current proposal would see football, which currently has a scholarship restriction of 85 players, have a roster limit of 105 players with no limit on scholarships.

Head coach Matt Rhule says that with this possible new change, the walk-on could be a thing of the past.

The way it works is there are no scholarship limits. So if you have 105 players, you can have 105 scholarship players if you want to make that investment. The movie Rudy will be hard to explain to our kids because they’ll be asking ‘what’s a walk-on.’

Rhule hopes the walk-on program can be saved somehow but said he will make a change if necessary.

At the same time, maybe some kids will trickle down to other levels and FCS and Group of Five football will be stronger. There will still be some room for walk-ons. What I’ll say is outside of Nebraska, we have 150 guys while most schools are in the 105 range. I came here and I was intent on getting to 115 because that’s what was asked of me. It’s just really hard because we have so many great in-state players who will walk-on for us. But if it’s mandated I’ll find a way.

This new rule would not take effect until the 2025-26 school year if it is to be implemented.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

What advice does Matt Rhule wish he received before his first season in the Big Ten?

Everyone has an opinion on Nebraska football.

Everyone has an opinion on Nebraska football. Head coach Matt Rhule confirmed as much during his press conference at the Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday.

Rhule also talked about getting help from some of Nebraska football’s legends, like Hall of Fame Coach Tom Osborne, who shared his advice on Memorial Stadium’s wild weather.

One of the things about being at Nebraska, you do get a lot of advice. Coach Osborne is there all the time to help. Coach Solich is there to help. Coach Osborne tried to warn me about the weather. He tried to warn me about the wind. And I heard it, but it was until it was 30 miles an hour in my face, I was like, oh, Coach Osborne wasn’t lying.

When discussing his biggest regrets from last season, Rhule said that he failed to adjust to the crowd in college football games as compared to his time in the NFL.

I think the biggest thing I regret from last year was, when you’re in pro football, it’s kind of quiet, and there aren’t bands and things like that. The crowd isn’t — and we started our first two games last year on the road in hostile environments. Minnesota, they did a great job. They had a gold out for their first game. So just getting readjusted to the crowd noise and the passion of the fans in the Big Ten, the atmospheres we’re going to have to go into. We have to be better on the road, so I wish I would have taken that to heart and gotten that advice.

He also shared the special guests who make appearances at football practices from time to time.

But I am so blessed. I get to coach college football, and some days I’ve got George Darlington, legendary secondary coach. I might have Tommie Frazier or Eric Crouch. I might have Coach Osborne there. I might have Coach Solich there. It’s a football coach’s dream.

Matt Rhule enters his second season as Nebraska’s head coach after finishing his first campaign with a record of 5-7. The Huskers will kick off the 2024 season on August 31, when they welcome UTEP to Memorial Stadium.

Nebraska HC Matt Rhule thinks four Big Ten teams should make College Football Playoff

Nebraska’s Matt Rhule thinks four Big Ten teams should make College Football Playoff

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule wants to see the Big Ten proportionally represented in the new 12-team College Football Playoff. He expressed his desire for the conference to get four annual bids during his appearance at Big Ten media days on Wednesday.

After including just four teams from 2014-2024, the College Football Playoff disbanded its original format to include 12 teams starting this fall.

The latest installation of the College Football Playoff will now comprise the selection committee’s five highest-ranked conference champions and its next six highest-ranked teams.

The top four, which would’ve been Michigan, Washington, Texas and Alabama, will now receive a first-round bye. The other eight squads will play in a knockout-style, first-round bracket. As opposed to playing at a neutral site, the higher-ranked seeds will host the lower-ranked seeds in the first round on campus.

Rhule, who signed an eight-year deal with Nebraska in November 2022, clearly believes the Big Ten’s depth in talent and top-end contenders should automatically warrant enough bids to comprise of one third of the playoff’s 12-team field.

With four new teams — Washington, USC, UCLA and Oregon, joining this fall, he may have a point.

In last season’s final poll, Washington finished No. 2 while Oregon was ranked No. 7. Ohio State, Penn State and Iowa also cracked the top 25, while Michigan finished 15-0 and won the national title.

Fortunately for Rhule, his blueprint may naturally come to fruition this fall. Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and Penn State all landed within the top 12 of ESPN’s post-spring Top 25 rankings in May. Iowa and USC also project to be competitive this fall.

A closer look of Nebraska football at Big Ten Media Days

Matt Rhule opened his availability by talking about the importance of having, not only a good staff but a veratran staff as well.

Nebraska’s head football coach met with the press at the Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday. Matt Rhule opened his availability by talking about the importance of having not only a good staff but a veteran staff as well.

I think what we’ll see in this new era of college football is the teams that can stay together and have veteran staff, veteran teams are going to be really good, and I think they’ve given us a chance to have a really good team this year. So grateful to inform them. It’s been a really exciting time for us.

He also highlighted the hiring of new athletic director Troy Dannen and the overall performance of the school’s athletic department for the 2023-24 school year.

It’s great to be a Husker. Troy Dannen coming in and taking over has brought a positive energy to the athletic department. Five Big Ten Championships this year in the athletic department. Multiple athletes representing us in the Olympics. Finished 22nd in the all sports standings.

Scrolling below, you can find photos of Nebraska’s appearance at Big Ten Media Days.

Nebraska’s Matt Rhule gives unique insight on recruiting in modern era

The Cornhuskers coach had an interesting take while appearing on ESPN’s “Pat McAfee Show.”

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule is no stranger to how much the recruiting landscape has changed over the last few decades.

From the time he took his first head coaching job at Temple to returning to the college landscape in 2023, the introduction of NIL and the transfer portal has completely flipped recruiting on its head.

Rhule joined “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday to discuss the kind of players he wants at Nebraska and the modern challenge of getting those types of players out of the transfer portal.

“With the portal, there’s no six-month recruiting period,” Rhule told McAfee. “They hit the portal and you’ve got about a week to decide if they’re right for you or not. It took me a long time to ask Julie to marry and she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, so asking a guy to come play for me after a week of knowing him is really hard.”

Rhule told McAfee that he wants players with the mentality of Kobe Bryant. He stated that he wants guys who will run through someone’s face.

However, that sort of mentality may not always show up when recruiting a player out of high school.

“Recruiting is about finding the guys who are going to be right for you and who will fit for you,” Rhule said. “Some teams are first or second every year in the recruiting rankings, but for me, it’s about who’s going come and thrive in your culture.”

Rhule’s first full class at Nebraska finished as the No. 23 class in the country according to 247Sports. That group was highlighted by five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola.

The Cornhuskers currently have 17 pledges in their 2025 class. That group ranks No. 30 nationally.

Watch the full interview below:

[lawrence-related id=101526068,101526046]

Wisconsin top remaining DL target Kade Pietrzak commits to a Big Ten rival

Wisconsin top remaining DL target commits to a Big Ten rival

Wisconsin top class of 2025 defensive line target Kade Pietrzak committed to Big Ten rival Nebraska on Sunday.

The Badgers were in the four-star recruit’s final four schools along with the Cornhuskers, Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas State Wildcats.

Related: Full recap of power rankings for every Big Ten football position group entering 2024 season

Pietrzak is ranked as 247Sports’ No. 321 player in the class of 2025, No. 35 defensive lineman and No. 1 recruit from his home state of North Dakota. He chooses Nebraska after taking official visits to each of his four finalists: Wisconsin on May 31, Oklahoma on June 7, Nebraska on June 14 and Kansas State on June 21.

His choice of Nebraska comes as somewhat of a surprise after 247Sports had initially logged a crystal ball for him to choose Oklahoma. Oklahoma insider Collin Kennedy switched his prediction to Nebraska on Saturday afternoon, one day before Pietrzak announced his decision.

Nebraska’s class of 2025 rises to No. 30 in the nation after adding the four-star defensive lineman. He is the program’s 17th commit in the class — the fifth from a blue-chip player.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025, meanwhile, currently ranks No. 21 in the nation with 22 players committed — five of them blue-chip players.

The two classes create an interesting comparison as the Luke Fickell era at Wisconsin and Matt Rhule era at Nebraska each enter their second years. The two programs will be directly compared for as long as the two head coaches are in place, that comparison beginning on the recruiting trail.

Wisconsin is 1-0 in the head-to-head series since the two coaches were hired. The Badgers will look to extend that streak in 2024 when the two meet on Nov. 23.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion.

Trio of seniors to represent Huskers at Big Ten Media Days

A trio of Nebraska seniors will represent the program at this year’s media days.

On Thursday, a trio of Nebraska Cornhusker seniors will represent the team at Big Ten Media Days. Heading to Indianapolis will be defensive back Isaac Gifford, offensive lineman Ben Scott, and defensive lineman Ty Robinson.

Big Ten Media Days are slated to last three days this year at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where the Big Ten Football Championship Game will also take place in December.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule along with Gifford, Scott, and Robinson will be a part of the festivities on Wednesday, July 24 alongside the likes of Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, UCLA, and USC.

Nebraska is set to kickoff their 2024 season on August 31 against the UTEP Miners.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule praises Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Nebraska’s Matt Rhule shared his admiration for what Deion Sanders is doing for college football

While some aren’t too worried about the Colorado Buffaloes heading into next season, Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule isn’t overlooking his team’s Week 2 matchup.

Rhule recently joined Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt on his podcast, discussing numerous topics before landing on Klatt’s alma mater. With Rhule having lost to the Buffs last season, he began by praising CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders:

“One thing we always have to remember when we talk about Colorado is how great Shedeur is,” Rhule said. “He’s one of the best football players I’ve ever coached against. We blitzed him, and I think we sacked him like 10 times, and we hit him a ton. He stood in there. I know everyone sees Shedeur on commercials and they see the swagger that he plays with, but he’s an unbelievable competitor.”

Rhule then brought up the entire Colorado team and explained the significance of the rivalry being played on national television. Here’s what he said:

“To me, you take Shedeur, you take Travis Hunter, you take all the players that they have, obviously coach (Deion) Sanders, they are going to come into our place as a really good football team with dynamic players that you have to compete with,” Rhule said. “How good is it for that part of the country to have this game and have it be on national TV at night? How good is it for the game of football? I just don’t want football to become this area of the country or this area of the country. I want it to be from coast to coast. I want all 50 states. What Deion (Sanders) has done, in my opinion, is he’s made football relevant to maybe people that weren’t watching it.”

Following the praise he gave Colorado and Coach Prime, Rhule explained how big of an opportunity this year’s game will be for his program in terms of exposure. Many will also focus on the good things Rhule said about Colorado, especially after the extracurricular activities that took place last year in Boulder.

Colorado will take on Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Week 2. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Sept. 7 at 5:30 p.m. MT, broadcast on NBC. It will be the Buffs’ first game on NBC since 1995.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.