Matt Rhule Says NFL Experience Could Be Nebraska’s Secret Weapon in NIL Era

That mindset couldn’t be more relevant as college programs flush with NIL dollars face the “bid wars” in both signing new players and holding onto current ones. Rhule sees the danger of impulsive NIL spending that empties the coffers quickly. He also mentioned leaving gaps down the roster. Instead, he’s brought in a pro-leaning discipline. With that, he can evaluate each NIL offer like an NFL front office would, always asking whether the long-term value matches the cost.

Rhule pulled another trick from the NFL handbook, which was mostly saving money for future opportunities. While college programs can’t roll over NIL funds like NFL salary caps, the principle remains the same to avoid blowing your budget so you have freedom later.

He said, "Now there’s differences. You can’t carry money over. The smart teams in the NFL carry money over and position themselves through the years. But that discipline, I think, is something that’s really, really unique. It’s hard because you get to know the players. You want to take care of everybody."

To keep things sharp, Rhule has a trusted NFL veteran advising behind the scenes. He boasted of his ace up my sleeve, "I brought in Pat Stewart, who spent a long time with the Eagles, Panthers, and also with the Patriots for most of his career. Having that set of eyes is really discipline. That’s going to be the key."

Stewart’s pro-level insight ensures each NIL commitment feeds into the team’s overarching strategy. Whether it’s filling immediate gaps, securing key contributors, or saving room for future portal stars.

That's a Smart Edge in a Chaotic Game

While other schools might go all-in on flashy NIL offers to chase a high-profile transfer, Nebraska is playing the long game. Especially to build sustainable depth, preserve flexibility, and treat every dollar like a cap hit. This mindset earns trust both inside and out.

Rhule believes this kind of structure could be key to bringing balance back to college football. "College football has been dominated by who can aggregate all the good players,” he said. “And hopefully a salary cap, if it holds, which I hope it does, hopefully that will allow for more parity and let the best teams win."

The ripple effects show up on the field, too. When players believe they’re part of a fair, stable system, they stick around. Retention becomes less about chasing the highest NIL paycheck and more about loyalty to a plan and teammates. For Nebraska, having a sturdy, cohesive unit year after year could be the difference between a winning season and a championship run.

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