Rhule expresses quiet confidence in Nebraska's 2025 chances at Big Ten Media Days
LAS VEGAS – Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule made his third appearance at the Big Ten Media Days podium on Tuesday at Mandalay Bay. His message continued the Huskers’ offseason theme of optimism and quiet confidence.
Headlined by the four player representatives he brought with him to Las Vegas – quarterback Dylan Raiola, offensive lineman Henry Lutovsky, and defensive backs DeShon Singleton and Marques Buford Jr. – Rhule said NU’s internal belief stemmed from ownership.
For example, his players joked during their dinner on Monday night that Rhule didn’t even need to attend Tuesday’s media day because they had it handled. “I almost took them up on it,” Rhule quipped.
“Right now, it’s their program…” Rhule said. “Everyone is owning the product.”
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Rhule says improved talent, growth will be the difference in 2025
Despite ushering in three new full-time coordinators and losing significant production and experience from last season’s roster, the Huskers believe they have the pieces in place to make a major jump in 2025.
“If I say one thing, I’ll say this: We like our football team,” Rhule said. “We like our football team a lot, and we believe we can play with anybody… Yes, we have to win more. That’s a big deal. But we came into a program that we knew was going to take a little bit of time to fix. I think we’re close to fixed.”
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A critical component for Nebraska to make a jump in Year Three under Rhule is winning the close games it has lost so many of in recent years. With upgraded talent, including an established QB in Raiola, Rhule believes his squad is now equipped to finish.
“I think we lost a lot of those games because we just weren’t good enough,” Rhule said. “Our focus has been on improving as a team, because they don’t all have to be close. Some of those games, why don’t we just win by 14?
“That panic comes from when you don’t think you can control what happens, where you’re listening to all the outside narratives – we should be doing this, we should do that. And finally, the team grows up. People always ask me about Year Three. Finally, the team grows up, and they’re like, ‘Well, I’ve gotta go make the play.'”
