Latest news with #Rhule
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions. This article originally appeared on Cornhuskers Wire: Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule makes CBS Sports' top coaches list
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
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.
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Nebraska lands commitment from elite 2027 QB prospect Trae Taylor
Matt Rhule and the Nebraska Cornhuskers continue to score big on the recruiting trail, this time landing a verbal commitment from one of the top quarterback prospects in the nation. Trae Taylor, a four-star prospect and the No. 7-ranked QB in the 2027 recruiting class, per announced his commitment to Nebraska on Thursday. The 6-foot-3, 186-pound signal-caller is the program's first commitment in the 2027 recruiting cycle. Taylor, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns during his sophomore season at Carmel Catholic High School (Mundelein, Illinois) last year, committed to Nebraska over Illinois, LSU and Texas A&M. During his commitment announcement, which was streamed live on 247Sports' YouTube channel, Taylor picked up an Illinois hat, stood up and placed it on his head while saying, "I'm going to stay home and go to Illinois." After a brief pause, he removed the hat, tossed it to the side, and then proceed to grab a Nebraska cap, which he showed off along with a Nebraska shirt underneath his hoodie. "Coach Rhule and Coach Thomas, they've all been very genuine, and I feel like they can get me better both on and off the field," Taylor said when asked by 247Sports why he chose Nebraska. "I really believe that they can get me to the next level, which is the NFL, where I want to be at." Nebraska quarterbacks coach Glenn Thomas served as Taylor's primary recruiter throughout his recruitment, and he was able to spend time with him and current Huskers starting QB Dylan Raiola during his recent visit to Lincoln. "I feel like Nebraska is the best place for me," Taylor added following his commitment announcement, "and we've got the best fans in the nation." Rhule and the Cornhuskers are set to welcome the nation's 20th-ranked recruiting class this season, per and are already off to a nice start in the 2026 class with three verbal commitments, highlighted by four-star safety prospect CJ Bronaugh, who is the No. 72-ranked recruit in the class, per Taylor follows Ohio State pledge Brady Edmunds as the second elite-level signal-caller to announce his commitment in the 2027 recruiting class. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from College Football Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nebraska football to have spring scrimmage after initially canceling event
Nebraska football to have spring scrimmage after initially canceling event The Nebraska Cornhuskers made a surprising change to their spring football plans. After initially deciding not to have a spring football game, Matt Rhule has reversed course, and the Huskers will play a spring game... with a twist. Nebraska will hold a live scrimmage on April 26 in Memorial Stadium. Rhule told the press that he changed his mind about a spring game after it was confirmed that college football rosters would be cut to 105 players. The Huskers have approximately 120 players on their roster. 'I'm glad you asked that. It sounds like it's going to stay at 105, from what I'm seeing. We've already had most of them with everybody. We're going to do the Husker games next Saturday. I called Troy (Dannen) last night. I'm going to go live and do some Red and White stuff." With Nebraska having more players than roster spots available, several players will play their final game at Memorial Stadium. Rhule told reporters that he wanted those players to go out in style. We have a bunch of guys that this could be their last time playing in that stadium. We have a bunch of guys that are fighting to make the 105. We have a bunch of guys, that, if they can't play here, they need some tape to go somewhere else. I've waited until after the portal closes. The portal closes that Friday. The head coach was also clear that most starters would not play in the game. Rhule said that if you aren't at Memorial Stadium on April 26, you won't be able to see the scrimmage. The guys that are cemented in their spots, they won't play. Some guys will ask to play or not, but those guys that are battling – some are twos even, but they want to prove they're a one. We're going to do the Husker Games. We're going to bring out a bunch of Husker greats, like the Pro Bowl, but I'm going to put the ball down a little bit and play some live football. No Big Ten Network. The Husker Games will take place on Saturday, April 26, allowing fans to preview Nebraska football, volleyball, and soccer teams for the 2025 season. On the football field, the Huskers will feature 7-on-7 games and skills competitions similar to the NFL's Pro Bowl games. Greats from Nebraska's past will also participate in various skills competitions. There will also be a women's flag football game between Midland University and the UNL all-star intramural team. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
New York Times
18-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Matt Rhule on Nebraska's spring game (it's on, sort of), punting shuffle and roster crunch
LINCOLN, Neb. — Matt Rhule woke up rested Thursday morning. It helped him bring extra energy into football practice, the 12th of 15 at Nebraska this spring. Why the good night of sleep? It's in part, he said, because Rhule sees a team on the field full of players who love to play the game. 'This is the team I've been waiting for,' the third-year coach said in a post-practice interview session. Advertisement For example, Rhule said, to punish these players after the offense fumbled in a competitive period Thursday, he removed them from the field. Instead of making them run the drill again, he took the game away. 'It's completely different,' Rhule said. 'And it has nothing to do with me. It's the guys. They like to compete. They love to practice. And they're competing at a high level.' Rhule provided an update Thursday on the spring as Nebraska enters the final stretch of this chapter in the offseason. Here are four observations: 1. Remember two months ago when Nebraska canceled its spring game? Well, it's back. "I'm going to put the ball down and play some live football." 👀🏈🏟️@CoachMattRhule is giving the guys their shot next Saturday at The Husker Games. Be there to witness what makes Nebraska Football so special. 🎟️ → — Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) April 17, 2025 The traditional Red-White format, pitting the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense, remains off the table. Rhule nixed the end-of-spring scrimmage in part because he didn't want to create a showcase for rival programs to scout the Nebraska roster. The school instead devised the Husker Games as an end-of-spring event, featuring skill competitions, a garage sale of apparel and memorabilia, facility tours and other sporting events. As of late this week, it will also include live football. Rhule cleared the idea Wednesday, he said, with athletic director Troy Dannen. The scrimmage will involve players mostly outside of the top 53 to 57 on the roster. 'We have a bunch of guys that, this could be their last time playing in that stadium,' Rhule said. 'We have a bunch of guys that are fighting to make the 105. We have a bunch of guys that, if they can't play here, they need tape to go somewhere else.' Advertisement With the House settlement and details on a roster limit unresolved, Rhule said he believes that current players will not receive relief in the way of a grandfather clause that allows programs to carry more than 105 when the season opens in August. Nebraska's roster stands at 131 players. Any reserve who 'still has meat on the bone,' Rhule said, will be given a shot in the scrimmage. 'We've got guys who do this schedule after being told, 'You're not going to make the 105,'' Rhule said. 'So I'm going to put them out there and tell my wife and kids to come watch them play. 'I can't tell you how grateful I am for the kids that are still here, knowing 'my odds aren't that high.'' 2. Nebraska has entered the market for a punter after Jack McCallister announced on opening day of the spring transfer portal window that he would leave the Huskers. I'd like to thank Coach Rhule, Coach Foley, Coach Ekeler, Coach Maher and many others for the opportunity to play at Nebraska. However, due to a change in circumstances I have entered the transfer portal with one season of eligibility remaining — Jack McCallister (@jmccallister38) April 16, 2025 McCallister arrived at Nebraska in January upon his transfer from Washington. The circumstances of his portal departure differ perhaps from any at Nebraska — and underscore the reality in this NIL era that college programs are managed more than ever like NFL organizations. Rhule and special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler, hired in February from Tennessee, met last week with McCallister to inform the punter that the Huskers planned to employ a rugby-style punting scheme in 2025. Ekekler used the system with the Vols to achieve success behind Australian punter Jackson Ross for the past two seasons. 'Schematically, it's a no-brainer,' Rhule said, citing rule differences between the college and NFL games that permit players in coverage to release from the line of scrimmage before the ball is kicked. Advertisement The Huskers offered McCallister an opportunity to stay. 'He asked if he could continue to stay at practice (through the spring) and finish what he started,' Rhule said. 'I just want to be very clear, I feel terrible about the circumstances. When I met with him, he was so professional, (though) obviously deeply disappointed. 'I don't feel good about how it happened. I don't feel good about the situation. I don't feel good about it, but it is what's in the best interest of us.' The coach said he hoped that his three children would 'grow up to have the type of character in the face of adversity that (McCallister) showed.' Nebraska has practiced covering punts in a rugby-style system this spring. It plans to add a punter in the summer. After the spring ends next week, players will break from team activities until June 2. 3. Last week, offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen pulled the curtain back on several rising performers this spring on his side of the ball. Rhule added a defensive player to the list: sophomore linebacker Jacob Bower. A walk-on from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., Bower, after a redshirt season in 2023, did not earn an invite to preseason camp last August. But he embarked on a steady climb after his arrival when the fall semester began. He is not among the Huskers fighting at the end of spring for a roster spot. Bower, at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, is fighting for a starting spot. 'I can't run him with the twos anymore, because he plays like a starter,' Rhule said. 'He pays for school. Doesn't have an NIL deal. And he just plays and plays and plays and plays and plays.' He won't pay for school after this spring. Whether through NIL or a scholarship, Rhule said, Bower has earned his spot and then some. 4. Camp season at Nebraska is about a month away. The Huskers have acted more selectively, because of roster limits and the rising level of competition in the Big Ten, as they distribute scholarship offers close to home. Advertisement Of the top 10 prospects in the state of Nebraska in the Class of 2026, according to 247Sports, just two have received Nebraska offers — Omaha North defensive back Darion Jones and Millard South tight end Isaac Jensen. None are committed to the Huskers. Five of the top 10 are committed to Iowa State. Want an offer? Come to camp, Rhule said. 'I don't think there's anything wrong at the University of Nebraska that we carry ourselves like one of the top 20 programs in the country,' Rhule said. 'There's lots of kids I would like to recruit. If they've committed to a Big 12 school or somewhere else like that, come to camp. 'If you want to play in the Big 12 over the Big Ten, oh, I got it. But make no mistake, there's a big difference.' It's a reality, Rhule said, that the Big Ten and SEC play at a higher level than teams in other conferences. 'I have to worry about, 'What's Ohio State doing? What's Michigan doing?'' Rhule said. 'I love the state (of Nebraska). I love the players.' The Huskers will take in-state players, he said. 'I just have to be sure that they're good enough.'
