Nebraska’s next offensive coordinator search should be viewed through a wide lens, but there’s no denying the Huskers have a real pitch to make.
Matt Rhule’s shaky job status adds a wrinkle to the process, and that could make the hunt more complicated than it would be under normal circumstances. Still, Nebraska can sell more than just a job. It can sell the Big Ten, major resources, national recruiting reach, the chance to chase top portal talent and an opportunity to help restore one of college football’s most recognizable programs.
The setting matters here. Nebraska has invested heavily in football, and the program’s facilities, fan support and financial backing stack up with almost anyone. That kind of infrastructure should carry real weight when the Huskers go looking for an offensive coordinator.
Money is part of that story, too. Nebraska paid Dana Holgorsen $1.2 million annually and gave defensive coordinator Rob Aurich an initial three-year, $3.6 million contract before announcing an extension through 2029 this week.
Under the new deal, Aurich will make $1.8 million annually before his salary rises to $1.9 million in February 2028 and $2 million in February 2029. The agreement also includes a $3 million buyout if Aurich leaves for another assistant coaching position before February 2028.
That kind of spending power gives athletic director Troy Dannen a real advantage. He has shown he is willing to pay coordinators, and for the right candidate, Nebraska could be a serious financial opportunity even if the broader situation feels uncertain.
Rhule said during Monday’s press conference that he wants an offense that’s physical, can run the football, control the line of scrimmage, protect the ball and produce explosive plays. That’s the profile Nebraska should be chasing.
The ideal fit, then, is someone who can bring a creative system that forces defenses into conflict while also matching the traits Rhule wants on offense. The search should include established play-callers with proven success at the Power Four and Big Ten levels, along with rising offensive minds who are shaping current trends and could pair well with a defensive coach on a similar ascent, like Aurich.
The list of possible targets is built around that idea. Six coaches stand out as home-run options, and the top name on the list is a familiar one.
In Other News...
Nebraska May Have Found A Sneaky Coordinator Fit For Matt Rhule
Nebraskas search for a new offensive coordinator has already started to take on a familiar Matt Rhule flavor, with the Huskers looking for someone who can pair structure with flexibility and help steady the offense after Dana Holgorsens firing. One name that fits that profile is Landon Keopple, who has been running the offense at Texas State since January 2025 and has helped produce a unit that has shown up near the top of national rushing categories.
Keopples appeal goes beyond the numbers. He has coordinated offenses before at Southern Arkansas and has spent multiple stops working alongside GJ Kinne, giving him a background in systems that ask quarterbacks to operate efficiently while keeping the run game central. For Nebraska, that kind of rsum makes him a sneaky fit on paper, especially if Rhule wants a coordinator who can bring some continuity, development and a clear identity to the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Just Got A Huge Break In A Game Matt Rhule Needs
Rutgers took a major hit this week with wide receiver KJ Duff going under the knife for season-ending high-ankle surgery, a loss that changes the look of its offense heading into a matchup Nebraska has been circling. Duff had already established himself as one of the more dangerous pieces in the Rutgers passing game this season, and his rise had even put him on the radar as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
For Nebraska, the timing matters. Matt Rhules team needs every edge it can find in a game that could shape the conversation around the Huskers, and facing Rutgers without one of its top playmakers is a meaningful break. The Scarlet Knights still have enough talent to make things interesting, but losing a receiver with Duffs production and upside removes a layer of danger Nebraska would have had to account for. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Kicking Mess Just Made One Former Husker Hard To Ignore
Special teams was supposed to be one of Nebraskas stabilizers, but the kicking game has turned into a problem area after Mike Ekeler left for USC. Kyle Cunanan lost the starting job because of poor performance, and John Hohl has not been able to settle things down, leaving the Huskers searching for answers in a spot that can swing close games in a hurry.
That backdrop has made Tristan Alvano hard to ignore. The former Husker, now at South Dakota State, has put together a solid season and his name is starting to surface again in conversations about Nebraskas roster if he ever enters the transfer portal. For a program trying to rebuild confidence in its kicking operation, the contrast is hard to miss, especially with the coaching change still hanging over the unit. [Read more 🡒]