Matt Rhule met with the media on Friday, and while there were plenty of updates-including official announcements about Nebraska's revamped coaching staff-it was his comments about the state of the program heading into Year 3 that really lit a fire under the fanbase.
“I’ve had to do a lot of that stuff because someone else didn’t do it,” Rhule said, referring to the foundational work he claims was left undone before his arrival. “I shouldn’t have had to do it.
Some people take over programs; they don’t have to do that. We had to do a lot of stuff.”
That statement, and others like it, didn’t land well with many Husker fans-especially those who feel that by now, the program should be showing more tangible progress.
Rhule pushed back on the idea that Nebraska is hitting the “reset” button this offseason, even amid a wave of changes that includes staff departures and the exit of key players like Dylan Raiola and a starting defensive back. Instead, he leaned into the narrative that the program was in far worse shape than most realized when he took over. “If anyone ever understood what we walked into, they’d be amazed at what we’ve done,” he said.
Now, there’s no denying that Rhule inherited a program that had been spinning its wheels for years. But the problem for many fans isn’t the past-it’s the present. And right now, the progress Rhule is pointing to feels, for some, more like internal reshuffling than forward momentum.
Of the original staff Rhule brought in, only running backs coach EJ Barthel and linebackers coach Rob Dvoracek remain in their original roles. Offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield is still on staff, but he’s no longer calling plays after a high-profile demotion. On the defensive side, Nebraska is now on its third defensive coordinator and third defensive line coach in as many years.
In today’s college football landscape, player turnover is expected. Between the transfer portal and early NFL declarations, rosters are in constant flux. But when the coaching carousel spins this often, fans start to wonder about the direction of the program-and who’s really steering the ship.
Once Rhule’s comments made their way to social media, the reaction was swift and sharp.
“With the resources & facilities Nebraska gave Rhule on Day 1, if Rhule is hinting that the measuring stick has anything to do with Scott Frost in Year 3, then he is conning the fanbase. It’s Year 3, not week 3,” one fan posted.
Another added, “It took coach Rhule 3 years to start blaming the Frost era on a program that has not gotten better under his watch. Do better, coach.”
And then there was this: “It was the last administration’s fault. Rinse and repeat.”
That sentiment-frustration with the constant looking back instead of forward-is becoming more common among a fanbase that’s been patient, but not endlessly so. And with Nebraska’s 2026 Big Ten schedule shaping up to be significantly tougher than 2025’s, there’s real concern that the road ahead won’t offer much relief.
If Year 4 doesn’t bring meaningful improvement, comments like the ones Rhule made this week won’t just fall flat-they’ll feel like excuses. And in a place like Lincoln, where football isn’t just a sport but a way of life, that’s a tough sell.
Rhule still has time to shift the narrative. But at this point in his tenure, the clock isn’t just ticking-it’s echoing.