Dec 28, 2024; Bronx, NY, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule celebrates with his team after the game against the Boston College Eagles at Yankee Stadium. USA TODAY Sports

Penn State Dodges Bullet – Nebraska Extends Matt Rhule

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Oct 30, 2025 6:21 AM ET

It already seems as though everyone has been talking about this year’s coaching carousel for years. And the top talking point during a good portion of this time has been Matt Rhule. Now with news emerging out of Lincoln, Neb. that Rhule has signed a contract extension, the biggest victor in all of this, even more than Rhule, is Penn State.

The second that Penn State fired James Franklin on October 12 ^th, Matt Rhule’s name began to circulate. And the most excited person about this was Rhule’s agent. There were only two possible outcomes, and both would make Rhule and his agent more money. The first was Rhule going to Penn State and signing a mega-deal and the second was a contract extension from the Huskers.

Dec 28, 2024; Bronx, NY, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule celebrates with his team after the game against the Boston College Eagles at Yankee Stadium.

As the weeks lingered on, the excitement towards Rhule from the Penn State side began to wane. Maybe it was because common sense entered the equation in Happy Valley. Penn State had just fired a head coach that had gone 128-60. Why would they hire a coach that is 18-15 at Nebraska and 65-58 as a college head coach?

Rhule had been mentioned as a future head coach at Penn State for so many years that it just felt expected. The opportunity was finally there for the Nittany Lions to bring an alumni back to lead the program to the promised land. Until the excitement of the moment diminished and fans began to notice that Rhule isn’t as good of a coach as many believed.

Penn State can do better and now will. As for Nebraska, you can say that they unnecessarily panicked and gave Rhule an extension when the likelihood of him going to Penn State was diminishing by the day. But a contract extension for a head coach means little to nothing, as has been proven hundreds of times. Here is one:

Nebraska is (sorta) happy to keep Rhule. At least for a couple of days because if they lose at home to USC on Saturday night any happiness that is there today will be gone. Much more was expected from the 2025 season in Lincoln and it hasn’t materialized. A loss to the Trojans will only magnify that.

As for Penn State they can re-focus, which they were in the process of doing anyway. There is no guarantee that whoever they hire will turn out to be better than Franklin. But whoever it is will be entirely their choice. Not just someone who was forced down their throats because they graduated from Penn State in 1997.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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