WATCH: Matt Rhule discusses NEW contract extension, upcoming USC showdown

Matt Rhule will lead Nebraska football into Game No. 9 on Saturday.

It’s a massive upcoming showdown with No. 23 USC – one with potentially significant implications on a run to a College Football Playoff berth for both programs.

That game, despite how big of a matchup it will be, almost feels like it is running in the background now. That’s because, of course, Nebraska announced a new contract extension for head coach Matt Rhule on Thursday, which is set to keep him in Lincoln as the Huskers’ leader through 2032.

Both Rhule and Huskers athletic director Troy Dannen met with the media shortly after the announcement to discuss the contract extension, the reasons Rhule has chosen to remain with the Huskers, why Dannen and the university offered the extension now and plenty more.

READ: Matt Rhule, Nebraska agree on new contract extension

As for the significance of Saturday’s game: Two weeks ago, the Huskers’ run of momentum came to a screeching halt. The Huskers, who started the year 5-1 and earned an AP Top 25 ranking, fell flat in a disheartening, pessimism-inducing 24-6 loss on the road at Minnesota. It was a national spotlight game in which Nebraska had not only just cracked the Top 25 that week but also entered as a near-touchdown favorite.

Last week, however, Rhule’s crew rebounded with a major 28-21 win over Northwestern – a victory that produced a hope-inducing injection of optimism.

Now, Rhule and the Huskers (6-2 overall, 3-2 Big Ten) get another shot at a marquee victory as they welcome USC into Lincoln. The Trojans (5-2, 3-1) started the year with a 4-0 record before running into their most difficult stretch of the season. They wound up losing on the road at Illinois, won at home over Michigan and lost on the road again at Notre Dame – three opponents all ranked in the Top 25 – with bye weeks mixed in between the Illinois and Michigan games and between the Notre Dame and Nebraska games.

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As USC seeks to rebound from that 1-2 run and build some momentum toward a potential berth in the College Football Playoff, it will come into Lincoln to face Matt Rhule and a Nebraska team looking for its own spark toward the CFP.

Opening kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Central Time with the game available to watch live on NBC.

Before the Week 10 matchup gets rolling, Nebraska held its last press conference of Game Week inside Hawks Championship Center on Thursday.

Rhule took the podium for his weekly lightning-round session with the media as the Nebraska head man gave his final updates, injury reports and additional thoughts on the matchup with USC. But the bulk of the press conference, of course, was centered around his contract extension.

Watch and listen to Rhule and Dannen, who spoke shortly after Rhule, during that press conference via the videos below. You can also check out video and audio of Rhule’s more in-depth comments from his Monday Game Week press conference HERE.

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule discusses new contract:

Husker AD Troy Dannen explains new Matt Rhule extension:

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