Matt Rhule addresses Penn State opening

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule found himself in the headlines as a top candidate for the Penn State job following James Franklin’s firing on Sunday.

Rhule was a walk-on linebacker for Joe Paterno at Penn State from 1994 to 1997. Patrick Kraft, Penn State’s athletic director, once helped hire Rhule to be head coach at Temple when Kraft was Temple’s deputy athletic director. The two have stayed close throughout their careers.

Two days after picking up a dramatic 34-31 comeback win at Maryland that improved Nebraska’s record to 5-1 (2-1), Rhule addressed Penn State’s job opening and his name being linked to it at his Monday press conference.

“I came here for two reasons: I love the community and I wanted to live here, and I love it here. And I wanted to rebuild Nebraska football,” he said. “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 a great college football coach.”

Specifically addressing the opening, Rhule didn’t shy away from his affection for his alma mater.

“I love Penn State, met my wife there, my alma mater,” Rhule said. “Fan since I was born, I think probably had a Penn State shirt when I was born. I love Pat Kraft, and really sad to see Coach Franklin go.”

He added: “[Nebraska athletic director] Troy [Dannen] and I are in an unbelievable relationship too, and Troy and I are in constant, constant communication about this program and where we’re headed.”

Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule addressed the Penn State job opening, the firing of James Franklin and the Huskers' upcoming game at Minnesota during his Monday press conference — Nebraska football coach Matt Rhule addressed the Penn State job opening, the firing of James Franklin and the Huskers’ upcoming game at Minnesota during his Monday press conference (Imagn Images)

Penn State fired Franklin on Sunday following consecutive losses to UCLA and Northwestern. The Nittany Lions are just one year removed from a College Football Playoff appearance, with wins over SMU and Boise State, before a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. In twelve seasons with the program, Franklin went 104-45.

Rhule lived in State College, Penn., as a teenager and walked on at Penn State in 1994. After four seasons he was a volunteer assistant for the team before taking his first position coach role as linebackers coach at Albright College in 1998. He’s a New York City native.

In addition to Rhule’s playing connection to Penn State, he’s longtime friends with Kraft. Kraft was deputy athletic director at Temple in Rhule’s first two seasons as head coach of the Owls. Kraft took over as athletic director in 2015 and stayed in the role until 2020. Rhule of course left Temple for Baylor after the 2016 season.

Matt Rhule is in his third season at Nebraska, looking to lead the Huskers to the “Year Three Jump” like he did his previous two stops. He led Temple and Baylor from 2-10 and 1-11 seasons in Year One, to 10-3 and 11-3 records in his third season at each program, respectively. Nebraska sits at 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten and No. 25 in the AP Top 25 Poll midway through the year with matchups against Minnesota, Northwestern, No. 20 USC, UCLA, Penn State and Iowa ahead.

Rhule signed an eight-year, $74 million contract in 2022 and currently has a buyout total of $49,612,500, the tenth-highest buyout in college football. Penn State would have to pay for Rhule in the the range of $5 million to get him out of his contract at Nebraska, per On3’s Pete Nakos.

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