Nebraska Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule. Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Why Matt Rhule rejected the Penn State job to stay at Nebraska

By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Nov 25, 2025 5:15 PM ET

Penn State's national coaching search was the big story for about a week when the program fired James Franklin on Oct. 12 amid a 3-3 start.

It abruptly fell off the map when Florida fired Billy Napier on Oct. 19, a week after PSU parted ways with Franklin. The three-way race between Ole Miss, Florida and LSU for Lane Kiffin's services in 2026 is grabbing attention this week.

PSU is now set to interview interim head coach Terry Smith for the permanent gig this week as big-name coaches show interest in programs south of the Mason-Dixon Line.

Penn State reportedly had interest in Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule. Both head coaches signed contract extensions with their respective schools not long after the PSU job opened.

Matt Rhule rejected Penn State

Per Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, Rhule "turned down" Penn State, where he played linebacker, to stay with Nebraska for 2026.

Why Matt Rhule turned down Penn State — and was at peace after Nebraska's loss to the Nittany Lionshttps://t.co/MkqYYgUgxy pic.twitter.com/nYWFK4qD4B
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) November 25, 2025

"I love these guys, I wanted to be their coach, I've always wanted to be their coach," Rhule said of Nebraska on Saturday, via CBS Sports. "To come here and be out there with them, even though the result wasn't what we wanted, I'm always proud of them and happy to be with them."

Rhule had a humbling outing on Saturday after turning Penn State down in October. PSU knocked around the Cornhuskers 37-10 in Happy Valley.

At the end of the contest, a good chunk of the crowd of 105,038 fans at Beaver Stadium chanted "Terry" in the hopes Smith would be given the position Rhule neglected.

Even after a brutal defeat, Rhule didn't immediately regret his choice to remain in Lincoln. That might change if he can't elevate Nebraska into the College Football Playoff conversation in the next season or two.

Jordan Sigler

Jordan Sigler is a sports writer with a decade of experience as a journalist, including his time as a breaking news/day cops reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. His sports coverage across the NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, and college football world has also been featured at ChiCitySports, Gridiron Heroics, Pro Football Network, and Athlon Sports. Based in Austin, Texas, Jordan graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas Tech University in 2014

More must-reads: