Nebraska QB Casey Thompson shares joy in spoiling Iowa's season

It’s been an up-and-down first season at Nebraska for Casey Thompson. It started with a Week 0 loss to Northwestern in Ireland before a coaching change, an arm injury and, to cap it off, a rivalry week victory over Iowa on Friday.

That win was special for the whole Nebraska program. Thompson, the transfer from Texas, knew how much it meant — even if he didn’t realize there was a trophy involved until Friday afternoon.

But now that he knows it exists, he understands how important it is to take it back to Lincoln.

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“It was big to get that trophy and take it away from them,” Thompson said, via The Athletic’s Mitch Sherman.

Thompson had a huge day to help Nebraska to the victory, its first over Iowa in seven years. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns to help the Cornhuskers past the Hawkeyes in the season finale. With the win, Nebraska kept Iowa from winning the Big Ten West, dashing the Hawkeyes hopes of making it to Indianapolis for the conference championship game.

Now, a big offseason looms, and a coaching change appears to be on the horizon.

Report: Nebraska offers Matt Rhule, ‘optimistic’ deal will be reached

We’re learning more about the negotiations between Nebraska and former Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule about the Cornhuskers’ head coaching job. There’s reportedly a deal on the table.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman and Mitch Sherman reported Nebraska has officially offered the job to Rhule. The news came out in the third quarter of the Cornhuskers’ regular-season finale against Iowa, and the hope is a deal can come together in the coming days.

Additionally, Feldman and Sherman had more details about how negotiations have gone over the last month, especially with the transfer portal window opening in a couple weeks. A report from CBS Sports previously said Rhule turned down the Nebraska job, and the duo confirmed the Cornhuskers previously offered him the spot. However, Trev Alberts returned with a stronger package this week, and that’s when things really started heating up.

Nebraska has been in search of a full-time head coach since firing Scott Frost Sept. 11. Mickey Joseph has served as the interim coach since then, and it appears Alberts and the Cornhuskers are locked in on their next headman. Earlier Friday, ESPN reported has “zeroed in” on Rhule as its top target.