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Entering his third year as Nebraska’s head coach, Matt Rhule will look to take a leap next season as sophomore quarterback Dylan Raiola continues to develop in a highly competitive Big Ten Conference. After a strong 3-0 start to the 2024 season the Cornhuskers earned the 20th spot in the AP college football rankings, showcasing improvement from their previous 5-7 season. Despite early success, Nebraska finished with a 7-6 record and ranked 12th in the Big Ten conference. However, the Cornhuskers season ended on a positive note as they won their first bowl game since 2015 after a 20-15 win over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Head coach Matt Rhule will look to repeat his coaching pattern of leading programs to double-digit wins and high AP rankings just like he did with Temple and Baylor, leading both programs to winning seasons and several bowl appearances. Nebraska will look to build on its young promising defense, which was in full display against some of the best offenses in the country-holding the reigning national champions to only 21 points and limiting a high-scoring Colorado offense to only 10 points.
Yards don't win games, touchdowns do.
Despite being one of the highest-scoring offenses in the Big Ten, the Cornhuskers will need to improve their efficiency on second and third downs-ranking just inside the top 15 in both categories despite their offensive-minded head coach Matt Rhule. In a conference where every down matters, 3.8 yards per carry will not be enough to compete with powerhouses like Ohio State and Oregon. Nebraska will look to rely on quarterback Dylan Raiola who many expect to take a major leap his sophomore year, similar to Matthew Stafford 2007 breakout season where he led Georgia to an 11-2 record.
This offseason, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, entering his second year with the Cornhuskers, looks to expand the playbook for an offense with an abundance of talent. After scoring only 13 passing touchdowns and converting just over 40% of third downs, Nebraska’s offense ranked in the bottom half of the Big Ten. This new-look offense is poised to be more efficient driving down the field both on the ground and through the air, as recent talented acquisitions add speed, versatility, and elusiveness to what looks to be a dynamic offense that can help second-year quarterback Dylan Raiola take the next step forward. Head coach Matt Rhule will look to create more explosive plays outside the numbers and between the hashes, maximizing a young talented offense while competing with powerhouses within the conference.
Defense is the identity of Nebraska football
After the departure of defensive coordinator Tony White, head coach Matt Rhule appointed John Butler, former passing game coordinator for the Cornhuskers, as the new defensive coordinator heading into the 2025 season. Butler made his debut as the team's defensive coordinator in the Pinstripe Bowl against Boston College, holding the Eagles to just two points in the first three quarters and forcing a turnover in the Cornhuskers’ first bowl win since 2015. Last season, Nebraska ranked inside the Big Ten’s top five for fewest passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, and points allowed, while finishing inside the top ten for most turnovers forced. Head coach Matt Rhule confirmed that he will retain the 3-3-5 defensive scheme used under former defensive coordinator Tony White, continuing to build on previous defensive success and creating a more efficient and consistent play, generating pressure for opposing quarterbacks and forcing turnovers.
The Cornhuskers aim to make noise this upcoming season, tying for 16th in the Big Ten in strength of schedule (.503), making this a pivotal season for third-year head coach Matt Rhule. Rhule looks to improve and capitalize on recent success with a much improved roster that looks to compete with other powerhouse programs in the Big Ten and across the country. Heading into this season Nebraska looks to rejuvenate their historic legacy of five national champions-behind standout second-year quarterback and a young, talented defense. With hopes of hosting a playoff game at Memorial Stadium come late December, the Cornhuskers are determined to put Nebraska football back on the map and bring another championship to Lincoln.
More from Nebraska on SI
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Matt Campbell finalizes program-friendly contract extension with Iowa State
A big-name coach secured his future with a Big 12 football program by making an unselfish act. Per Max Olson of ESPN, Matt Campbell agreed to a contract extension with Iowa State that will keep him in Ames through 2032. He took a program-friendly discount to keep a top staff and allocate $1 million in rev-share funds. "Iowa State and coach Matt Campbell have finalized his extension through 2032," Olson posted on X. "He’ll earn $5 million per year in total compensation. "The 3x Big 12 Coach of the Year took a discount on the deal to ensure his staff pool increased and allowed ISU to allocate an additional $1 million in rev-share funds for football, sources told ESPN." Campbell has been linked to big coaching jobs in the recent past, including in the NFL. He met with the Chicago Bears for their head coach opening this winter before they hired Ben Johnson. Campbell, 45, took over at Iowa State in 2016. He's gone 45-36 with the Cyclones. Iowa State went 11-3 last season and were one win away from making the College Football Playoff, as they made the Big 12 championship but lost to the Arizona State Sun Devils 45-19. Keeping Campbell in Ames is a no-brainer for Iowa State. He's helped keep the Cyclones relevant during his nine seasons with the program. Campbell was smart to take a discount, allowing the Cyclones to stay competitive in recruiting. ISU is the second head coaching gig Campbell has had in college. He went 35-15 during his five seasons at Toledo. He was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2015.
Dolphins' Tyreek Hill stirs up drama, calls for teammate to be benched in certain situations
Tyreek Hill was just trying to be a good teammate, but his Miami Dolphins colleague didn't care for the message. On Friday, Hill gave a meaty performance during his media availability, broaching subjects from his mastery of the offense this year to saying he agreed with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that he needed to be a better leader on the Dolphins for the upcoming season. Then he took a shot at running back De'Von Achane. He suggested the Dolphins keep the 5-foot-9, 191-pound back off the field in third-and-short situations. "Take (Achane) out on 3rd-down," Hills told reporters, via the Dolphins. "What? That's my honest opinion. If it's third-and-short, he's not a power back. I've been telling him that in the locker room... I love De'Von, but If I'm being honest, that's why you got Jaylen Wright, that's why you got Ollie Gordon." Achane responded to Hill giving his opinion to the media. "That's how you feel," Achane wrote with a laughing emoji. Achane rushed for 907 yards and six touchdowns on 203 carries last season. That's an average of 4.5 yards per rush. The Dolphins' backfield as a whole struggled in the run game last season, averaging a pedestrian 105.6 rushing yards per contest. Achane certainly didn't thrive on third-and-short, but Hill's comments feel unnecessary. Last season, Hill caught 81 passes for 959 yards and six touchdowns — his worst production since 2019, when he missed four games due to injury. Is Hill ready to admit that he's washed? Miami's offense was bad, and it didn't help that Tagovailoa missed time due to a concussion. Defenses took advantage of the Dolphins' limited and discombobulated offense last season. Miami's training-camp news conferences are becoming a concern. Hopefully for the team, Achane won't take the slight from Hill too personally.
Five biggest losers from the 2025 MLB trade deadline
The 2025 Major League Baseball trade deadline was 6 p.m. ET on Thursday. Some teams managed to get better in either a short-term or long-term outlook. Other teams did not. We've already gone over the five biggest winners, which featured some surprising teams. Here we are focusing on the five teams that were the biggest losers. Minnesota Twins The good news for Twins fans is the team did not trade outfielder Byron Buxton or starting pitcher Joe Ryan. The bad news for Twins fans is the team traded pretty much everybody else. The worst news is the Twins have pretty much sabotaged any goodwill the team had built up in recent years, including their 2023 trip to the American League Division Series. Since then the Twins collapsed late last season, did very little in the offseason and then completely gutted the roster over the past two weeks, including a straight salary-dump trade of Carlos Correa to the Houston Astros, his former team. This is going to be a long, slow climb back to the top. Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates had a chance to have a potentially impactful trade deadline with some intriguing trade chips in what had become a seller's market. They ended up trading closer David Bednar, third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, starting pitcher Bailey Falter and relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson. They held on to pending free agents Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Tommy Pham and Andrew Heaney. What's so baffling about the trades they did make is that they gave up useful, productive players with years of team control still remaining, did not get a single highly-ranked prospect back in return and kept the players that are going to leave for nothing. The only winner here is owner Bob Nutting's bank account for all of the money he saved in the future by dumping Hayes' contract and potential arbitration years from Bednar and Falter. Chicago Cubs After paying a steep price to get outfielder Kyle Tucker in the offseason everybody in Chicago knew the clock was ticking on the Cubs to build a winner around him. He is a free agent after this season and seems determined to hit the open market for the highest bidder. Even though the Cubs have emerged as a contender, it was pretty clear as the season has gone on that they needed at least one more starting pitcher. They did not get one, and instead only added a utility infielder (Willi Castro) and reliever Taylor Rogers. While so many teams around them in the NL managed to get better, it's an underwhelming deadline performance for a team that should be going all in. Atlanta Braves It's not that the Braves did anything poor at the trade deadline that makes them losers. It's that they didn't do ... anything. At least not anything that they needed to do. None of their pending free agents were moved, no significant changes were made to a team going nowhere this season and the only move they did make was a marginal trade involving Rafael Montero. That is extremely underwhelming. Boston Red Sox The Red Sox were rumored to be in the market for a significant starting pitcher, including Minnesota's Joe Ryan. They did not make that sort of splash move, and instead added Steven Matz and Dustin May. For a team trying to hang in the American League playoff race, that is not really exciting. They also paid a steep price to get May, giving up one of the top prospects — outfielder James Tibbs III — they acquired in the Rafael Devers trade to the San Francisco Giants.
Lakers Interested in $60 Million All-Star Big Man, Under One Condition
The Los Angeles Lakers were hunting for a center for most of the offseason after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They knew they needed an upgrade from Jaxon Hayes. While the Lakers didn't get any of the top centers on the free agent market, they were able to sign Deandre Ayton after he was bought out. Another center would be a better fit, but he wasn't available in the offseason. Nikola Vucevic has been linked to the Lakers dating all the way back to the trade deadline, although Vucevic was not moved. More news: Lakers Make Massive Announcement Ahead of 2025-26 Season The Lakers would only be interested in Vucevic if he were to be bought out, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Los Angeles will not be pursuing a trade to acquire Vucevic. After bringing in Ayton on a two-year deal, it wouldn't make sense to trade assets in order to bring in Vucevic. They want to see what Ayton can do before bailing on him already. The Lakers needed a starting center, as that was their biggest need heading into the offseason. While Ayton isn't the greatest option, he is someone who can help the team with what he brings to the table. The Bulls seem to think that Vucevic can still help them win games and contend for the playoffs in what will be a very weak Eastern Conference next season. If things don't go well by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Bulls might decide to buy him out if they aren't in the playoff picture. That would be the only scenario in which the Lakers bring him in. More news: Lakers Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Luka Doncic Extension The Lakers are always looking to improve the roster whenever possible. They aren't worried about hurting feelings, so they wouldn't hesitate to offer Vucevic a contract if they thought he was better than Ayton. With LeBron James entering the end of his career, the Lakers are going to try to win the title as quickly as possible while he is still on the roster. Last season with the Bulls, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Lakers Castoff All-Star Linked to East Team in Free Agency For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
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