Matt Rhule, Nebraska agree to contract extension

Nebraska and head coach Matt Rhule are closing in on a contract extension, sources tell On3. The former Penn State linebacker’s name has been tied to the Nittany Lions’ job opening in recent weeks, but he is staying in Lincoln. He’s expected to ink a two-year contract extension.

Rhule is 18–15 in three seasons at Nebraska and has the Cornhuskers bowl eligible for the second consecutive year. The former Carolina Panthers and Baylor head coach flipped top quarterback recruit Dylan Raiola from Georgia in 2023 and has been a pivotal piece of Rhule’s rebuild.

Rhule is signed with the Huskers through the 2032 season, including a $15 million buyout this year. Sources have said Rhule has been adamant about funding the roster at a high level. The Cornhuskers are 6-2 on the season and host USC on Saturday night.

“I love Penn State,” Rhule previously said about the Penn State opening. “Met my wife there. My alma mater. A fan since I was born. I think I probably had a Penn State shirt when I was born. I love Pat Kraft. Really sad to see Coach Franklin go. You think about what he did for my alma mater, the program was in peril. … I came here for two reasons: I love the community here – I wanted to live here, I love it here – and I wanted to rebuild Nebraska football. Troy and I understand the steps that you need to take to make us Big Ten champions and national champions.

“This place is elite. I want to be a great father and I want to be a great college football coach. I’m not going to talk a lot about job openings when they come. Maybe it’s been a while here, but this is what happens when you win. I’ve dealt with it – we’ve won at Temple and I dealt with it all the time. I’ve dealt with it at Baylor. I’m not going to talk about those things ever, I’m not going to talk about my contract here. I’m going to talk about the team. I absolutely love it here. I want us to continue to take the steps needed for us to turn this place into a beast.”

Upon his arrival at Nebraska in 2023, Matt hule signed a contract through 2030. His salary started at $5.5 million in his first year in Lincoln and increased each year. On Jan. 1, 2025, Rhule’s annual salary increased to $7.5 million and would jump to $8 million on Jan. 1, 2026.