
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule represented on CBS Sports' list of top head football coaches
CBS Sports ranked the top 68 coaches in college football for the 2025 season. Matt Rhule and the Nebraska football program were represented on the list, with the coach coming in at 32nd overall.
Rhule and the program are looking for a bigger 2025 campaign after finishing last season 7-6. They won the Pinstripe Bowl, which was an achievement for the program, as they had not won a bowl game since 2016.
After finishing 5-7 in 2023 and 7-6 in 2024, the program looks to take a big leap, aided by freshmen and transfers on both sides of the football. Tom Fornelli broke down why he put Rhule in the 32nd spot.
"Rhule's Nebraska was able to cross a bowl game off the to-do list last year, but he still fell three spots in our rankings. After all, there's a difference between 6-6 bowl eligibility and 8-4, so you'll have to forgive some of our voters if they weren't overly impressed with Rhule's sophomore season in Lincoln."
Rhule is known for making third-year leaps in his previous stops at Temple and Baylor. Huskers could be poised to make the jump as well with a favorable schedule.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle
Contact/Follow us@CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
16 hours ago
- USA Today
WR Michael Wilson named Arizona Cardinals' 'under-the-radar start' for 2025
WR Michael Wilson named Arizona Cardinals' 'under-the-radar start' for 2025 CBS Sports names third-year receiver Michael Wilson as a guy who could be a quiet contributor in 2025. The Arizona Cardinals are nearing the end of their offseason program, and with this time of year it is when we try to find players who will step up, players who will improve and who will be a surprise. CBS Sports named a player from every NFC team considered a potential "under-the-radar star." Who is that player for the Cardinals? That would be third-year receiver Michael Wilson. Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride and 2024 fourth overall pick wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. get the spotlight with the Arizona Cardinals, but 2023 third-round pick wide receiver Michael Wilson could be on the verge of a breakout in 2025. He was third on the team in targets (71), catches (47) and receiving yards (548) in 2024, but quarterback Kyler Murray thinks Wilson has the ability to be a 1,000-yard receiver. "Mike [Wilson] is a 1,000-yard receiver. I truly believe Mike can have 1,000 yards and be very comparable to the guys we see doing it year in and year out," Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said on April 9, via PHNX Cardinals podcast. "It's all about opportunities, staying healthy and the connection we have on the field, but ... he's got it. He can play receiver." Given that kind of belief from his quarterback, Wilson could make a huge leap in the coming season. In two NFL seasons, he has yet to crack 600 yards. Is he under the radar? Certainly. The radar is firmly picking up McBride and Harrison. McBride had a huge 2024 and Harrison is poised to leap forward as a star receiver. But is Wilson going to be an "under-the-radar star?" That is a little much. Could he be a candidate to have an under-the-radar impact? Yes. If McBride and Harrison are both 1,000-yard receivers and James Conner is a 1,000-yard running back again for the third consecutive season, then if Wilson passes 750 yards, he will have become a consistent third option in the passing game, and that would be awesome. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.


USA Today
20 hours ago
- USA Today
Former Panthers HC Matt Rhule reunites with franchise great Cam Newton
Former Panthers HC Matt Rhule reunites with franchise great Cam Newton If you don't want to be brought back down memory lane to the 2021 Carolina Panthers, then you may want to proceed with caution. The "Battle of the Boneyard," one of the nation's top 7-on-7 football camps, took place on Friday at the University of Nebraska's Memorial Stadium. On hand for the event was former Panthers head coach and current Cornhuskers head coach Matt Rhule, who just so happened to run into a familiar face . . . Panthers legend Cam Newton, who was in attendance in Lincoln to join his C1N team, shared a sideline with Rhule for half of the 2021 campaign. That short union, or reunion in Newton's case, saw the Panthers lose seven of eight games in punctuating a disappointing 5-12 season. But despite those results, and even a little rockiness that came on the way, Newton took a liking to Rhule during his brief time back in Carolina. "Matt Rhule was an unbelievable guy," Newton said on his YouTube show in March of 2024. "So much so, that when I say 'unbelievable,' I'm like, yo, he's a guy that I would kick it with. We had great conversations. We had great meetings and great insights on the game, family, religion—just the whole process to how we both got to this situation." Well, they got to kick it yet again—even if this situation was a bit different. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.


USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
How ESPN's Football Power Index ranks Auburn's 2025 opponents
How ESPN's Football Power Index ranks Auburn's 2025 opponents Half of Auburn's 2025 opponents begin the season ranked in the top 25 of ESPN's Football Power Index rankings. For anyone in the SEC, the schedule is always a grueling one. Despite the conference not having a national championship in the last two seasons, the league is still regarded by most as the best in college football. The Auburn schedule for 2025 is a tough one, but it is also a manageable one. The conference schedule is the same as 2024 except the home and away portion is flipped. The Tigers add Baylor, Ball State, South Alabama, and Mercer to the schedule. This week ESPN released their Football Power Index rankings, and Auburn ranks No. 14 in the country. The FPI gives Auburn a win prediction of 7.5 games with a 21.8% chance of making the College Football Playoff. Eight wins would be a huge improvement after the previous four seasons, but is it enough for Hugh Freeze? Time will only tell on that discussion. The schedule of opponents will also go a long way in determining the final record. Auburn will be playing good teams most weeks. The opener versus Baylor will be important, and a 1-0 start is pivotal. The FPI is projecting the Bears to go 7-5 this upcoming season and place sixth in the Big 12. Baylor closed out the regular season with six consecutive wins before losing the LSU in their bowl game. They finished 8-5 and will be looking to continue their 2024 momentum. Auburn will host the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in the FPI rankings this season in Alabama and Georgia. Both teams are projected to win ten games and play in the College Football Playoff. Auburn has not beaten the Crimson Tide since 2019, and it has been even longer since they beat the Bulldogs. The last win over Georgia was in 2017. Auburn will have a tricky two-game stretch early in the season when they visit Oklahoma and Texas A&M in back-to-back weeks. The Sooners are looking to be more competitive this season and FPI has projected them at seven wins. The Aggies win total is projected at eight wins, and they should be a team in the College Football Playoff discussion. The road trip to Norman, Oklahoma could be an emotional game. Quarterback Jackson Arnold will be looking to have a big game versus his former team. Here is a look at Auburn's schedule, broken down by ESPN FPI ranking: Oct. 11 vs. Georgia (No. 2) Nov. 29 vs. Alabama (No. 3) Sept. 27 at Texas A&M (No. 8) Sept. 20 at Oklahoma (No. 16) Oct. 25 at Arkansas (No. 22) Oct. 18 vs. Missouri (No. 23) Aug. 28 at Baylor (No. 33) Nov. 1 vs. Kentucky (No. 34) Nov. 8 at Vanderbilt (No. 56) Sept. 13 vs. South Alabama (No. 83) Sept. 6 vs. Ball State (No. 132) Nov. 22 vs. Mercer (FCS-N/A) Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__